then,
Black History Month has been celebrated for years in the United States (US)
since the 1920s,
Once
celebrated for the contributions of black people to our collective human
civilisation, Black
History
Month has evolved greatly over the years and is arguably the annual toast of
cultures in
the
US, Canada and the UK. The plethora of activities
programmed for every Black History Month is
often
evenly matched by a flurry of excitement and animated debates.
When
Carter Woodson initiated it in the US
in 1926 it was meant to remind white America that black
Americans
have history too. In 1987 when Akyaaba Addai Sebo adapted it for celebration in
the UK
it
was to limelight black heroes and role model them for young blacks. In both
cases the motivation
was
the denial or silence over black achievements in history and the goal was to
celebrate and bring
them
to life.
Today
the celebration of Black History Month is much more than reminding the rest of
the world
that
black people have heroes and history. Pressing challenges have shifted gear to
issues of
historical
revisionism, inequality of opportunities, racial profiling, and mistrust and
prejudice
between
whites and non-whites amongst many others. When Humanitas Afrika introduced
Black
History
Month to the Czech
Republic it was part of
this broader vision of mending or building bridges
between
cultures.
Yet
some cynics call the continued celebration of Black History Month into question
especially when
the
US,
the world’s super power, is headed by a president of black descent. They
dismiss Black
History
Month as an anachronism backed by others who pooh-pooh it as hero worship and
occasion
for
media tokenism only. While these cynics are busy debating the relevance or
otherwise of Black
History
Month many across the racial divide look forward to it every October in the UK and Czech
Republic
with great expectations for edutainment.
Black
History Month has become a cultural institution of remarkable performances in
music, theatre,
and
dance but also in intellectual discourse and reflection. In the words of one
Gary Younge, it “gives
us
all a chance to rescue stories that have been discarded, correct stories that
have been mistold,
and
elevate stories that have been downplayed.”
President
Obama emphasised Younge’s point when in proclaiming one Black History Month, he
acknowledged
that "…In the volumes of black history, much remains unwritten. Let us add
our own
chapter,
full of progress and ambition, so that our children's children will know that
we, too, did our
part
to erase an unjust past and build a brighter future."
In
a world that is yet to be at peace with all the races that inhabit it, it is
precisely the injustices and
the
quest for a brighter future for all that makes the continued celebration of
Black History Month
both
essential and relevant today. Black History Month is that clarion call to
people of conscience to
defend
truth and stand by the defenceless.
It
is meant to awaken humanity to reach out to those sidelined to the margins of
dignity and to
recognise
excellence where excellence is achieved irrespective of race. In essence, Black
History
Month
is about equality of access to opportunity.
In
the US Black History Month has been going on for some 86years. In the UK it is
in its silver jubilee
this
year. From 1987 when it was introduced into the London metropolis it has been
embraced
and
promoted by almost all local councils in collaboration with civil society and
civil society
organisations.
The
credit crunch notwithstanding, it is possible to sample film, literature,
music, dance,
performance,
exhibitions, sport, food, craft, folklore, seminars, symposia, awards and many
more
throughout
the UK this October. All of these are in recognition and tribute to black
contribution
to
history and civilisation. Importantly in today’s world, they are in pursuit of
justice and a more
conscious,
tolerant and inclusive society.
So
many things happen during Black History Month that contribute to knowledge, add
to our overall
awareness
and help deepen quality race relations. The notion therefore that Black History
Month
has
“outlived its usefulness betrays some ignorance of what its purpose was in the
first place,”
according
to Howard Dodson, the Director of the Schomburg Centre for Research in Black
Culture.
society.
Certainly, we are persuaded at Humanitas Afrika that Black History Month serves
humanity
a
noble cause and remains imperative in the quest for cultural understanding,
racial harmony and
equality
of place for all in the annals of our collective human history and
civilisation. Black History is,
after
all, human history.
As
Humanitas Afrika is unable to line up the usual programme of activities this
October to our own
chagrin
we want to hope that many in the Czech Republic will still find space and time
to reflect on
Black
History Month. To the UK where the celebrations have the additional
significance of a silver
jubilee
we extend our congratulations and we are in solidarity. And to the rest of the
world and
everyone
else we wish you a happy and educational Black History Month!
Samwin
Banienuba
International
Spokesperson for Humanitas Afrika (UK)
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