The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an event that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of history, culture and the connections between global Black communities, has taken on a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where Black people are remunerated to speak with predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The wave has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the Britain, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The period has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the observance is observed is a manifestation of the political moment. How it evolves is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to address structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a elected representative feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are surging in the European continent as a entirety.
In the United States, a significant offensive against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the state. A effort to erase Black history and experience from the historical documents is in progress. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or depoliticized celebrations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the situation of the current era. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is needed. An academic expert, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just do away with things like Black History Month altogether, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an era that has failed to deliver.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves mere awareness of the history when it ignores the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of “microaggressions”, but faced with the risks that affect everyone if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and adaptive. Maybe an total re-identification is required – Black History is Now Month.
