This commemorative month is a reflection of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?

We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an celebration that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a corporate feel, growing to encompass functions where individuals of African heritage are compensated to speak with Caucasian groups about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.

The History of Black History Celebration

Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Holland.

The observance has evolved since that time, giving reduced attention to the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the celebration is observed is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the objective of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.

A Troubling Time

Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it occurs this year. In the Britain, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels emboldened to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in the EU as a whole.

In the America, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, often successfully, to the highest courts of the state. A campaign to scrub the history of people of color and narrative from the archives is ongoing. One of the former president's early administrative commands focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”.

Given these circumstances, the observance represents how little it can be effective if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the current era. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is required. A university professor, a professor at University of Greenwich, put it best when she raised concerns about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a driver of transformation.”

Reconsidering, Not Discarding

Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just discontinue events including Black History Month altogether, thinking they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an period that has failed to deliver.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and heritage of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, regresses), but to be a living breathing thing.

So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out through the year (as some institutions are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not evade governmental matters, and provides room for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What use is mere awareness of the past when it fails to address the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Organizations who observe it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and alertness to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the risks that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and responsive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is required – Contemporary Black History Month.