Black History Month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?

This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an event that began as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include functions where African descendants are compensated to talk to Caucasian groups about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s created a surge in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The surge has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.

The Background of Black History Month

First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this movement and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.

The period has evolved since that time, focusing less on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and struggles for equality, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the celebration is commemorated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.

A Jarring Moment

Few things illustrate how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a elected representative gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in parts of a city is a reason for concern. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in the European continent as a complete entity.

In the America, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the country. A effort to scrub the history of people of color and narrative from the archives is under way. One of the former president's first executive orders targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.

Against this backdrop, the observance represents how minimally it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the realities of the current era. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is necessary. An academic expert, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”

Reconsidering, Not Discarding

Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just do away with observances such as Black History Month completely, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an time that has not worked.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.

So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? To begin with, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is distributed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a era that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has mere awareness of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Establishments who observe it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and sensitivity to minor insults, but confronted with the threats that affect everyone if anti-racism is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and reactive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is necessary – Black History is Now Month.