This commemorative month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so what steps can we take to refresh it?

This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an event that started out as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include events where Black people are remunerated to talk to predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The surge has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.

The History of Black History Observance

Originally observed in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, Éire and the Holland.

The period has evolved since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact 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 way the observance is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.

A Troubling Time

Few things illustrate how important it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the warmer months we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels empowered to say that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a whole.

In the US, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to scrub African American heritage and legacy from the archives is in progress. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.

Given these circumstances, the observance illustrates how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content festivities of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the present. It also shows how its short period means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”

Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand efforts for racial equality and recognition in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a urge to just eliminate events including Black History Month altogether, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an time that has not worked.

Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an infrastructure that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.

So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed through the year (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves simple recognition of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Organizations who mark it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to minor insults, but challenged by the risks that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is in order – Black History is Now Month.