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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 celebration that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to white audiences about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s created a surge in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The wave has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.

The Origins of Black History Celebration

First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in October in the Britain, Deutschland, Éire and the Netherlands.

The period has evolved since its inception, placing less emphasis on the narratives of transatlantic enslavement and civil rights battles, and more on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with talks and cultural events. But the way the celebration is observed is a reflection of the current political situation. How it progresses is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.

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A Disconcerting Period

Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the UK, a resurgent right 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. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, far-right parties are growing in the EU as a complete entity.

In the US, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the state. A campaign to erase African American heritage and legacy from the historical documents is under way. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.

In this context, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be effective if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the conditions of the present. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. A university professor, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”

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Reevaluating, Not Abandoning

Establishing how to alter, change and broaden actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month completely, assuming they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an period that has failed to deliver.

However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of campaigns for equality – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.

So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not shy away from political issues, and leaves space for citizens, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is simple recognition of the history when it fails to address the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Institutions who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and alertness to subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that impact society if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and responsive. Maybe an total re-identification is necessary – Black History is Now Month.