The annual Black History observance acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an observance that began as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include functions where individuals of African heritage are paid to speak with white audiences about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Originally observed in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the North America in February, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The observance has evolved since that time, focusing less on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on notable African descendants in government, the arts, and social movements, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the month is observed is a manifestation of the current political situation. How it progresses is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to weakening: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Troubling Time
Little demonstrates how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform organization is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we saw the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the African descendant in charge of the Tory party, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels empowered to declare that a lack of white people in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. At the same time, far-right parties are expanding in Europe as a entirety.
In the America, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been carried, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the nation. A effort to remove African American heritage and narrative from the archives is under way. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the month symbolises how insufficiently it can be effective if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content festivities of historical achievements, rather than challenging the realities of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is necessary. A university professor, a professor at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to alter, change and broaden actions for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month altogether, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an period that has failed to deliver.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an infrastructure that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the situation evolves (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed through the year (as some institutions are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not evade politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Organizations who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the risks that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, pressing, and reactive. It could be that an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.