On a bleak October morning after the haze of the British summer wears off, we hit black history month, or if you’re in America then it’s an icy February morning, coincidentally the shortest month of the year. The month dedicated to celebrating black excellence, history and achievements, but in all honestly a month set aside to gawk at the minority and ‘educate’ students about how amazing the British were in ending slavery.
Black history month does not serve its purpose, which is to educate people and to celebrate together about the achievements of black people, this though needs more than just a measly thirty-one days, the irony is to be inclusive by decking the streets with Rastafarian flags and colours, and shout inclusivity until November the first when Christmas is smacked in your face and prying open your pockets. A month dedicated to all what black people had to go through to be seen as more than just bodies to destroy with labour, and people that can be bought and sold. Bodies that were confined in boats, lined in their own fluids until they couldn’t make it anymore, bodies that were used for the benefit of one but not many, bodies used that built Britain, France, Spain, America, Portugal and the Netherlands. All have benefited from the highest levels using slaves, most of these countries can offer their citizens free health care, have comprehensive programmes for asylum seekers, can offer those that need help benefits so they don’t have to work/can still live while looking for work.
One month does not fully capsulated the fight, the work and the effort of black people on a day-to-day basis, the struggles and the troubles in which they have managed to rise from. The impacts of slavery effect how society functions day to day the racism and microaggressions, the taught behaviours from parents and guardians, the suppression of one’s true self because, you’re aggressive, or you act too white or too black.
One month doesn’t explain the changing of ethnic names to easy to digest/ spell as so to not be disregarded before even having a chance, the act of manipulating and damaging natural hair to please and appease, to look more professional. The want to assimilate into culture so badly until you have lost a sense of identity.
Black history is everything we have built and everything we continue to fight for and not be washed off the side of the street or advertisements changed out at midnight but for it to be a legacy taught and celebrated alongside all other achievements, if white history is every day, so is all history.