Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?

We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an celebration that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass events where Black people are paid to address predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The wave has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.

The Origins of Black History Month

First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.

The month has evolved since its inception, focusing less on the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and more on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the input Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the month is commemorated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it evolves is a instructive case in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.

A Jarring Moment

Little demonstrates how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the recent season we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in British history. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament feels empowered to say that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, far-right parties are growing in Europe as a complete entity.

In the America, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the state. A campaign to erase African American heritage and legacy from the records is under way. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders aimed at the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.

In this context, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be influential if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the current era. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. An academic expert, a educator at a learning establishment, put it best when she voiced worries about the fleeting superficial actions of the observance. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”

Reconsidering, Not Discarding

Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden actions for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just eliminate events including Black History Month completely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an period that has been ineffective.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an infrastructure that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.

So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What use is basic knowledge of the bygone era when it fails to address the present reality of far-right rallies in the street? Organizations who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and alertness to subtle slights, but faced with the dangers that face all if anti-racism is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and reactive. Perhaps an complete renaming is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.