Black History Month is a reflection of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an celebration that was initiated as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has developed a corporate feel, growing to encompass functions where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to address predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in winter, but also in October in the Britain, Deutschland, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the narratives of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the input 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 commemorated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the objective of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Little demonstrates how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament gains confidence to say that a lack of white people in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are growing in the EU as a complete entity.
In the US, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the state. A effort to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the records is ongoing. One of the former president's early administrative commands aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the month illustrates how minimally it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered commemorations of historical achievements, rather than confronting the realities of the contemporary world. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. A university professor, a educator at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a urge to just discontinue events including Black History Month altogether, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an era that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an framework that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not shy away from political issues, and provides room for individuals, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves mere awareness of the bygone era when it ignores the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and alertness to subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that face all if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and responsive. It could be that an total re-identification is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
