October marks the start of Black History Month. It is a celebration of the contributions that Black people have made to world history and raises awareness of their incredible achievements. However, the national school curriculum does little to highlight Black history beyond slavery, which is disempowering not only to Black communities, but also white children who are not educated about the broader picture of ethnic minority backgrounds. Therefore, it feels vital to acknowledge and support this important celebration. This is done through having a whole month dedicated to learning about Black History.
Black History Month was originally celebrated in 1926 in the second week of February. It was called ‘Negro History Week’ and coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, whose Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for slavery’s abolition, and Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave who became a high-profile activist and orator. The aim was for Black History to be highlighted in US schools. It was only in 1987, that Black History Month was first celebrated in the UK, due to the tireless efforts of Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. She said: ‘We settled on the propitious month of October’. This was because everybody was fresh from the summer vacation, and this was an opportunity to delve into Black History before everybody got busy with exam season.
But some might be wondering why Black History is only confined to 31 days. You don’t see other backgrounds being spotlighted in just one month – they are recognised and celebrated all year round. So, why is Black History any different? As actor Morgan Freeman rightly questions: “You’re going to relegate my history to a month? I don’t want a Black History Month. Black History is American History”. This really highlights how many still feel that their cultural backgrounds are being constricted, rather than celebrated all the time. This will hopefully soon be addressed via wider representation and within the national school agenda and curriculum.
On the other hand, it can be seen as a step in the right direction. Black History has been side-lined, ignored, and misrepresented for a long time throughout the world. It is a month-long event that recognises the things that unsung figures have accomplished within our societies. Having a dedicated time frame for Black History not only allows people to celebrate it but also raises awareness about it. It provides an opportunity to gain a broader understanding of different cultures, going beyond racism and slavery to spotlight Black achievement. It helps display that Black History is part of everybody’s history. ‘To learn about Black History is to learn how intertwined it is with your own’. Furthermore, it educates people about different cultural communities and discrimination, making it harder to ignore the existence of racism. It shows us that we must understand our past to understand our present – including the events and people who shaped the way the world stands today.
To conclude, Black History should not be restricted or confined to one month. It should be spotlighted all the time, and people should be educated on it over the course of the year. However, having one month specifically for it allows people who may otherwise neglect it, pay more attention towards Black communities and enhance their knowledge of Black cultural roots. This foundation is emphasised through the UK’s mission statement: ‘Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger”. So, if you see anyone in your community who is doing something exceptional, make sure to celebrate their incredible achievements.
