This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?

We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has taken on a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate gatherings where Black people are paid to address predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests generated a rise in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The wave has peaked, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.

The History of Black History Month

Originally observed in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in October in the Britain, Deutschland, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The period has transformed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the histories of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, 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 talks and cultural events. But the way the month is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it develops is a good lesson in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.

A Disconcerting Period

Few things illustrate how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the warmer months we saw the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the Tory party, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in the EU as a whole.

In the United States, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A campaign to erase the history of people of color and narrative from the records is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands aimed at the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.

In this context, the celebration symbolises how minimally it can be effective if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is needed. An academic expert, a professor at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a driver of transformation.”

Reconsidering, Not Discarding

Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just eliminate events including Black History Month altogether, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an era that has not worked.

But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of campaigns for equality – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.

So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not shy away from political issues, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What value has mere awareness of the bygone era when it fails to address the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Organizations who observe it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the dangers that face all if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and responsive. Perhaps an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.