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This is Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include events where Black people are remunerated to address white audiences about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.

The Background of Black History Observance

First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in the second month, but also in October in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The observance has evolved since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and more on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the month is commemorated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a good lesson in how appropriation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.

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A Disconcerting Period

Hardly anything shows how important it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the recent season we saw the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, 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 state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in Europe as a whole.

In the US, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, often successfully, to the highest courts of the state. A campaign to scrub African American heritage and experience from the records is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.

Given these circumstances, the observance represents how minimally it can be influential if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the situation of the present. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”

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Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend actions for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just do away with observances such as Black History Month altogether, assuming they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an time that has not worked.

But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and heritage of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an framework that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), 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 spread out throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not avoid politics, and leaves space for citizens, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Institutions who mark it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and alertness to “microaggressions”, but confronted with the dangers that face all if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is required – Black History is Now Month.