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This is Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an observance that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass gatherings where individuals of African heritage are paid to talk to predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.

The History of Black History Observance

First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this movement and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in the tenth month in the Britain, Germany, Éire and the Holland.

The month has developed since that time, giving reduced attention to the accounts of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a reflection of the political moment. How it progresses is a good lesson in how co-option leads to weakening: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.

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A Jarring Moment

Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform party is leading the polls. In the summer we observed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. Kemi Badenoch, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament feels emboldened to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are surging in the EU as a whole.

In the US, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the nation. A drive to scrub the history of people of color and experience from the archives is in progress. One of the former president's initial presidential directives targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.

In this context, the observance represents how little it can be influential if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered festivities of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the contemporary world. It also reveals how its limited duration means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. Denise Miller, a educator at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”

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Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just do away with observances such as Black History Month altogether, thinking 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 legacy of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not merely to decline as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.

So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not shy away from governmental matters, and provides room for citizens, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Institutions who mark it should not be pacified with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and alertness to minor insults, but confronted with the risks that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and reactive. Maybe an complete renaming is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.