Black History Month 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 appears it’s time for a reassessment. Throughout its history, an celebration that started out as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass events where Black people are paid to address Caucasian groups about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The wave has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Month
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the Britain, Deutschland, Ireland and the Holland.
The month has evolved since those days, focusing less on the accounts of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the observance is observed is a indication of the political moment. How it progresses is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Little demonstrates how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the warmer months we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a staunch adversary 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 parts of a city is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, far-right parties are expanding in the EU as a whole.
In the United States, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A drive to erase the history of people of color and legacy from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the political figure's first executive orders focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the month symbolises how minimally it can be influential if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is needed. Denise Miller, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the observance. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden efforts for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a difficult task. There is a urge to just do away with things like Black History Month entirely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an time that has not worked.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and tradition of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an framework that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? Well, first, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is spread out through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not evade governmental matters, and provides room for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Institutions who observe it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of hidden discrimination and awareness of minor insults, but faced with the risks that face all if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and adaptive. Perhaps an complete renaming is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
