“Black History Month Unfinished”
In the near century since Black History month, then known as Negro History week, was established, there is still work that needs to be done.
With the ongoing actions aimed at dismantling Black history through revision of the AP African American Studies curriculum and ongoing erasure of history prior to 1970, the state of the African American or Black experience is under attack. February has been devoted to the preservation and exploration of stories of trial and triumph by countless African Americans.
But as time goes on, many African Americans have outright called out the lack of progress and rise of regress regarding the quest for equality. According to a 2022 article for CNN, “Two-thirds of Black Americans say that recent increased focus on race and racial inequality in the US has not led to changes that are improving the lives of Black people, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center…most Black Americans say that major changes are needed in American institutions to enable Black people to be treated fairly.” The article went on to name institutions such as the prison system, the policing system, and an overhaul of the economic system.
African Americans today still lack the proper representation in traditionally white spaces beyond the token one or two individuals. There are more African Americans in areas such as politics, education, film, and music, however, as evident in the controversy surrounding the 2023 Grammys and the upcoming Oscars, there is not a drought of quality content for Black people by Black people, however that content fails to achieve recognition beyond constellation prizes.
A silver lining in this however is recent generations of African Americans – Millennials and Gen Z – have made up much of the consumer market and viewerships of networks and industries. Research even shows the latter group being not only the most diverse group to date in regards to identity, but Gen Z also explicitly names diversity as a matter they care about and even searches for that when considering job prospects.
There is no doubt that much of that attention is influencing their media interests. Especially in the age of digital production and consumption, consumers have more influence than ever. Traditional antiquated systems will continue to disappear in favor of systems that promote equity, transparency, and autonomy.
What does that mean for the attacks at this present time? Perhaps incumbent stakeholders and lawmakers show no concern for a backlash. However, upon election time and upon retirement, they will soon feel the brunt of their actions. Does that mean these systems that were built on racism and disenfranchisement will go away forever? Absolutely not. But as previously mentioned, consumers and the American public have more influence than ever before. In an era where one single action, through verbal, written, or even cyber, can cause a ripple effect, much of the history that is trying to be erased will in fact be reborn but with consequences that will last forever.
