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 UK, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has taken on a corporate feel, expanding to include gatherings where individuals of African heritage are compensated to speak with white audiences about hidden biases and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.

The History of Black History Month

First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the UK, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.

The period has evolved since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and more on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the way the celebration is observed is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.

A Jarring Moment

Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform party is leading the polls. In the summer we observed 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 emboldened to say that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in Europe as a whole.

In the America, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A campaign to erase Black history 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 renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.

In this context, the month symbolises how little it can be impactful if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized commemorations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. Denise Miller, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”

Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning

Determining how to alter, change and broaden efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an period that has been ineffective.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and heritage of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an framework that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a living breathing thing.

So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed across all seasons (as various establishments are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) included in educational programs. It would also be a time that does not avoid political issues, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves mere awareness of the history when it fails to address the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Institutions who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and alertness to minor insults, but faced with the dangers that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and reactive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.