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It's Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where individuals of African heritage are paid to talk to predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.

The Origins of Black History Observance

First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The period has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the narratives of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the observance is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how co-option leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.

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A Jarring Moment

Little demonstrates how important it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the shape of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we saw the largest far-right rally in British history. the Conservative leader, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels empowered to say that a lack of white people in specific city neighborhoods is a source of worry. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are growing in Europe as a whole.

In the US, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the top legal institutions of the country. A campaign to remove African American heritage and narrative from the archives is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”.

In this context, the celebration represents how insufficiently it can be influential if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the realities of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is needed. Denise Miller, a professor at an educational institution, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the celebration. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”

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Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Determining how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a urge to just do away with things like Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an era that has been ineffective.

Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, 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 situation evolves (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.

So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not shy away from governmental matters, and allows opportunity for people, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it fails to address the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Organizations who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but confronted with the risks that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and responsive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is required – Black History is Now Month.