🔗 Share this article

It's Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has taken on a corporate feel, expanding to include events where individuals of African heritage are paid to talk to predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The wave has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what increasing understanding is for.

The History of Black History Month

First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in the second month, but also in October in the UK, Deutschland, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The month has evolved since its inception, placing less emphasis on the histories of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the celebration is celebrated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.

---

A Jarring Moment

Little demonstrates how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a elected representative gains confidence to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. At the same time, far-right parties are growing in the European continent as a whole.

In the America, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, often successfully, to the highest courts of the nation. A effort to remove the history of people of color and experience from the historical documents is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.

Against this backdrop, the celebration symbolises how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is required. A university professor, a prof at an educational institution, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”

---

Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden efforts for racial equality and recognition in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just do away with events including Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an period that has failed to deliver.

But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an infrastructure that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.

So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out throughout the annual calendar (as some institutions are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not shy away from governmental matters, and leaves space for people, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What value has mere awareness of the past when it ignores the current situation of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Organizations who observe it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of hidden discrimination and sensitivity to minor insults, but faced with the threats that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and reactive. It could be that an total re-identification is in order – Black History is Now Month.