The Problem With Black History Month
(In the UK and beyond…)
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As Black History Month draws to a close, it wouldn’t have felt right if I didn’t publish at least one newsletter discussing it, so here it goes…
It’s 2020, and the worlds gone mad. Not only have we been battling a deadly virus for most of the year, globally we’re also going through what can only be described as a racial reckoning. Earlier this year the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor sparked worldwide protests, with millions of people calling for systemic change, equality, and a fairer future for all. Even though these deaths happened in the US, we are plagued with our own similar issues here in the UK - we're also having to confront our racist past and battle present-day racism, in the hopes that future generations of Black people can move freely through life with the same choices and chances as their non-Black counterparts.
During the below “60 Minutes” interview in 2005 Morgan Freeman said “You're going to relegate my history to a month?” and continued “I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement, this really hit home for me. My issue with Black History Month is this, for one month of the year we use Black History Month as a way to celebrate the achievements of Black people and learn about their history, and for the rest of the year these things fall into oblivion. Is it any coincidence that #BHM in the US happens to be in February, the shortest month of the year? Make of that what you will.
Black History needs to be fully integrated into society the same way other history is, so that the vast breadth and richness of Black experiences from around the world can be explored. There's no way that it’s possible to do this over the course of a month, and herein lies the problem. We need to change the discourse as part of a larger collective effort to integrate the lived Black experience into society. We learn about the same few historical Black figures; Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and President Barack Obama. But what about Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in 1948, or Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, or Claudette Colvin, an activist and pioneer in the civil rights movement who refused to give up her seat on the bus months before Park’s famous protest? These overlooked Black historical figures deserve to have their stories told, and we need to hear them.
I don’t think there's one singular answer or solution to eradicating racism, and I definitely don’t have all of the answers (there's far more knowledgeable individuals out there who can speak more on this than I can). I do however know that trying to erase the institutional racist structures and mindsets that exist in our modern-day society isn’t going to happen overnight. If it could have been done then I’m sure it would’ve been done by now… Well I think so at least. It’s important to remember that these systems and way of living that are embedded in our society aren’t broken, they were built this way.
I’m doing the work to try and become better educated and more informed about Black History and Black experiences, as a Mixed Race woman I want to learn about my culture and heritage, and if anything Black History Month is a great time to do this - even though this work should be being done by everyone year round (regardless of your ethnicity).
Here I’ve compiled my usual list of weekly recommendations but with a twist - this week I’ve focused on recommending things relating to Black History and racial injustice. You may find these recommendations helpful if, like me, you want to learn about Black History for more than one month of the year…
Books about Black History/racial injustice:
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity, and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored by Jeffrey Boakye
Taking Up Space: The Black Girl Manifesto For Change by Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea Ritchie
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Male Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha Bandele
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Have Black Lives Ever Mattered? by Mumia Abu-Jamal
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahazin R Banaji & Anthony G Greenwald
White Fragility: Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo & Michael Eric Dyson
Beloved by Toni Morrison
A More Beautiful and Terrible History by Jeanne Theoharis
TV shows & movies about Black History/racial injustice:
13th by Ava Duvernay
Podcasts about Black History and Black experiences:
Inspiring Black people you can follow:
Ava DuVernay: @ava
Cleo Wade: @cleowade
Brittany Packnett Cunningham: @mspackyetti
Jackie Aina: @jackieaina
Reni Eddo-Lodge: @renieddolodge
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu: @sholamos1
Layla F. Saad: @laylafsaad
Afua Hirsch: @afuahirsch
Mireille Cassandra Harper: @mireillecharper
Aja Barber: @ajabarber
*Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list, these are just some of the things I have found interesting and informative, or these are things I plan on reading and watching to educate myself. I encourage everyone reading this to do your own research.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more of what I’m up to, and I’ll see you same time same place next week!
Catch you soon,
J’Nae