Black History Month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an celebration that started out as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to white audiences about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month grew out of this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in the second month, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has developed since those days, focusing less on the histories of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and more on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a indication of the current political situation. How it evolves is a instructive case in how co-option leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we saw the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a legislator gains confidence to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, far-right parties are surging in the European continent as a whole.
In the America, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the nation. A campaign to remove Black history and experience from the historical documents is in progress. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration symbolises how little it can be impactful if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or depoliticized commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. A university professor, a prof at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the celebration. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Determining how to alter, change and broaden actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month altogether, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an period that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of campaigns for equality – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a considerable labor has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out across all seasons (as some institutions are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and provides room for citizens, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What use is basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and alertness to minor insults, but confronted with the threats that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not treated with importance. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. Perhaps an complete renaming is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
