🔗 Share this article Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so in what ways can we modernize it? It's Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between global Black communities, has taken on a corporate feel, expanding to include functions where African descendants are remunerated to address white audiences about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the enterprise of demonstrating racial awareness. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for. The Background of Black History Month First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent 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 publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the UK, Deutschland, Ireland and the Netherlands. The observance has transformed since those days, focusing less on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and widely honoring the contribution Black people have made to shape the country. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the observance is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism. A Disconcerting Period Little demonstrates how important it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the warmer months we observed the largest far-right rally in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in specific city neighborhoods 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 colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to scrub African American heritage and experience from the archives is in progress. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”. Given these circumstances, the month illustrates how insufficiently it can be influential if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized festivities of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the realities of the current era. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. Denise Miller, a professor at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.” Reevaluating, Not Abandoning Determining how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with events including Black History Month altogether, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an period that has not worked. However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and heritage of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism. So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month seem? To begin with, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) included in school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not avoid governmental matters, and leaves space for people, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves simple recognition of the history when it ignores the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Establishments who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of hidden discrimination and alertness to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that face all if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, pressing, and responsive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.