Black History Month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so what steps can we take to refresh it?

We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an celebration that was initiated as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where African descendants are remunerated to address Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.

The Background of Black History Celebration

Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The period has evolved since those days, focusing less on the narratives of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the celebration is commemorated is a reflection of the political moment. How it evolves is a valuable example in how co-option leads to weakening: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.

A Jarring Moment

Hardly anything shows how important it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we saw the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a member of parliament feels emboldened to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are expanding in Europe as a complete entity.

In the America, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, often successfully, to the highest courts of the nation. A effort to remove the history of people of color and legacy from the records is under way. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.

Against this backdrop, the month represents how little it can be influential if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content celebrations of former accomplishments, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also reveals how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is needed. Denise Miller, a educator at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”

Reconsidering, Not Discarding

Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just eliminate events including Black History Month completely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of campaigns for equality – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – represent an infrastructure that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a vital organism.

So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out across all seasons (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What value has mere awareness of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Institutions who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and alertness to subtle slights, but challenged by the threats that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and responsive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.