The global protests of 2020 thrust the importance of understanding black history into the spotlight – but, three years on, has that focus been maintained? As the UK marks Black History Month, MATT ELTON gauges the views of three historians
BIG QUESTIONS
What’s your take on the usefulness of Black History Month? Do you have any concerns that it might lead to the subject being overlooked the rest of the year?
Hannah Cusworth: A couple of years ago there was a debate among history teachers – myself included – about the merits of Black History Month. Had it outlived its purpose? Did it make your school less likely to integrate black history in the main curriculum? Shouldn’t we just be teaching black history all year round?
For a while, I was of the opinion that we should get rid of a special month and teach it all year round. But then I had a discussion with some of my students one July, in which they asked me what we were doing for Black History Month. I said: “We do black history all the time!” But they wanted something beyond that regular teaching: something more celebratory to mark individuals who had achieved great things.
You can debate the rights and wrongs of that opinion, of course, but it did change my perception, because the students seemed to see it a bit differently. Clearly there is still a need to do something much more focused.
Pamela Roberts: I’m in favour of it for a few reasons. It’s surprising how often I still meet people who say they have no idea that October is Black History Month. So it’s a good catalyst to start the conversation.
I’ve also noticed that the conversation has shifted recently to include a greater explanation of what the month is for and what comprises black history. There’s been a move away from enslavement history to more celebratory narratives, looking at individual achievements and contributions. I hear the arguments that a month is tokenistic, or that it means the work done by black historians and other professionals isn’t acknowledged as much as it should be – and that debate needs to be had. But I think it’s a good way of getting those issues out into the mainstream.
Hakim Adi: Black History Month is, to some extent, the recognition of a problem – that generally speaking, for the rest of the year, this history is hidden, ghettoised and neglected. That’s how I look at it: as a sign we still have a problem we haven’t dealt with. That encourages us to consider our attitude to Black History Month, and how to utilise it alongside the other 11 months.
I spend ever
