Post by INMYOPINION on Oct 25, 2004 15:15:46 GMT -5
TAKE BACK OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH pt.2 OF 2
By Delroy Constantine-Simms
Despite the image of a multi-cultural Britain, most non African or African ethnic groups continue to show antipathy to us when their political interests are not part of the agenda. In fact the label Black is losing its political currency and is gradually regaining its pariah status, the term Black in Britain as a label to describe people of African descent has been defrocked, disempowered and cast aside as a label that is frowned upon when it is not used to describe other people who are not traditionally considered Black, The term black has been exchanged for Urban, no longer can Blacks in Britain’s call themselves black in a positive context, no longer can we talk about Black music, Urban music is preferred. Blacks in Britain can just about call themselves Black. But make no mistake if we mess up we are gladly reminded we are Black by the very communities that call themselves Black but are essentially from other ethnic and cultural origins that are very removed from the African Diasporic experience.
Just like the Notting Hill Carnival, Black History Month has been hijacked by the unconscious, the ill informed and the misguided and other ethnic minority groups. This suits the powers that be because rather than accepting that each minority group has a different experience they would rather adopt a blanket approach to celebrating as oppose to issues that uniquely affect the African and African-Caribbean communities in Britain.
The consequences are clear the concept and reason behind Black history has shifted so much that Black in Britain means any one that experiences oppression, that’s all very well but in reality it is Africans and African Caribbean’s are at the bottom of the social and economical pile. Other communities are quick to remind us and so are local and National government agencies.
In essence, Black History Month should be called African History month and must be seen as a daily experience as oppose to some state handout that we should be grateful to accept. While I accept the importance of Black History Month, I have no interest in the mainly state sponsored versions of Black History Month as celebrated in Britain. I refuse to be a part of it unless the events are for Africans in the Diaspora about Africans in the Diaspora. It has taken no less that 18 years for the application of Dr. Carter G. Woodson concept in Britain to move from African History, to Black History Month, it’s only a matter of time before it’s becomes Multicultural History Month before being called Urban History Month.
My reasons are clear. In 1926, nearly eighty years after the inception and celebration of Black History celebrations in North America and the Caribbean, the original target group African’s in the Diaspora as defined by Dr. Carter G. Woodson is clear and hasn’t changed. Neither is there any confusion who is Black and why these celebrations exist. Except in Britain. However, the political and social resistance to a strictly African diasporic history focus by the wider community has meant that it has taken less than twenty years since the first British based Black History Month celebrations were held eighteen years ago for other ethnic minority groups to encroach, reshape and redefine Black history to the point that African related history is becoming increasingly marginalized yet the celebration still comes under the Black History celebration banner.
Black history should remain Black anything else is nonsense. The question we need to ask is this: Would Asians, Jews, Hindus or other minority groups allow us to intrude on their cultural celebrations? No way! They when Blacks in Britain try and celebrate anything that is specific to the Black community every one else wants to slip a dimension of their cultural input. When Blacks complain they are called exclusive and racist by other ethnic minority groups Yet if Blacks wanted to get involved in a Diwali, Mela, Hanukah or St. Patrick’s Day event there is often serious opposition from these so called none African community religious and political leaders.
In essence, the British version of Black History Month has been hijacked by social groups that are so far removed from the Black experience it is ridiculous. That hasn’t happened yet in the USA! White America and other ethnic minority groups are so racist that many of these groups have no real incentive or motivation to hijack Black History Month. To be fair to American society, there is no confusion about race or cultural identity. The USA, really does allow you to celebrate who you are in a much undiluted manner. It’s a situation that is clearly understood and respected. Besides African Americans would never allow anyone who is not Black to cal themselves Black. People of colour may be! Black! I really don’t thinks so.
Celebrants of Black history must also make it clear that some of the very same ethnic minority groups that consider themselves politically black have also been involved in the oppression of Africans in the Diaspora. I find it highly, offensive that these said groups continue to show disrespect for the Black community and yet they have the nerve to call themselves politically Black.
Historical and current events clearly show that many of these UK based ethnic minority groups have treated African in the Diaspora worse than white folks do if they were given the opportunity! In fact some of then have and still do. The situation in Sudan, India, China, and Russia, Turkey and Greece, are a few places where people of African origin are treated less than animals yet they want to muscle in on Black History Month!
There is no way that would ever happen in the USA, the boundaries are too clearly defined. No one has a monopoly on history. Other groups can celebrate Black history month, but they should not be allowed to slip their cultural nuances into the equation, to the point that the only thing Black about Black History Month is the title!
Black Britain must not accept the current substandard offerings of Black History Month! We must regain ideological control of African History. Blacks in Britain must prevail in Black History Month celebrations. If Blacks in Britain are not careful they will have nothing left to celebrate! I put it to the readers in no uncertain terms that if the current state of affairs continues, that is allowing other groups to determine how Black history is celebrated, Blacks in Britain will have a greater affinity with Kebabs Somosas Sahris than Reggae, Rice and Peas Steel Bands!
In the meantime I’ll be waiting until February to celebrate the US version of Black History Month. The Black British version is just not for me. No doubt it will change. I am just not prepared to wait!
END
By Delroy Constantine-Simms
Despite the image of a multi-cultural Britain, most non African or African ethnic groups continue to show antipathy to us when their political interests are not part of the agenda. In fact the label Black is losing its political currency and is gradually regaining its pariah status, the term Black in Britain as a label to describe people of African descent has been defrocked, disempowered and cast aside as a label that is frowned upon when it is not used to describe other people who are not traditionally considered Black, The term black has been exchanged for Urban, no longer can Blacks in Britain’s call themselves black in a positive context, no longer can we talk about Black music, Urban music is preferred. Blacks in Britain can just about call themselves Black. But make no mistake if we mess up we are gladly reminded we are Black by the very communities that call themselves Black but are essentially from other ethnic and cultural origins that are very removed from the African Diasporic experience.
Just like the Notting Hill Carnival, Black History Month has been hijacked by the unconscious, the ill informed and the misguided and other ethnic minority groups. This suits the powers that be because rather than accepting that each minority group has a different experience they would rather adopt a blanket approach to celebrating as oppose to issues that uniquely affect the African and African-Caribbean communities in Britain.
The consequences are clear the concept and reason behind Black history has shifted so much that Black in Britain means any one that experiences oppression, that’s all very well but in reality it is Africans and African Caribbean’s are at the bottom of the social and economical pile. Other communities are quick to remind us and so are local and National government agencies.
In essence, Black History Month should be called African History month and must be seen as a daily experience as oppose to some state handout that we should be grateful to accept. While I accept the importance of Black History Month, I have no interest in the mainly state sponsored versions of Black History Month as celebrated in Britain. I refuse to be a part of it unless the events are for Africans in the Diaspora about Africans in the Diaspora. It has taken no less that 18 years for the application of Dr. Carter G. Woodson concept in Britain to move from African History, to Black History Month, it’s only a matter of time before it’s becomes Multicultural History Month before being called Urban History Month.
My reasons are clear. In 1926, nearly eighty years after the inception and celebration of Black History celebrations in North America and the Caribbean, the original target group African’s in the Diaspora as defined by Dr. Carter G. Woodson is clear and hasn’t changed. Neither is there any confusion who is Black and why these celebrations exist. Except in Britain. However, the political and social resistance to a strictly African diasporic history focus by the wider community has meant that it has taken less than twenty years since the first British based Black History Month celebrations were held eighteen years ago for other ethnic minority groups to encroach, reshape and redefine Black history to the point that African related history is becoming increasingly marginalized yet the celebration still comes under the Black History celebration banner.
Black history should remain Black anything else is nonsense. The question we need to ask is this: Would Asians, Jews, Hindus or other minority groups allow us to intrude on their cultural celebrations? No way! They when Blacks in Britain try and celebrate anything that is specific to the Black community every one else wants to slip a dimension of their cultural input. When Blacks complain they are called exclusive and racist by other ethnic minority groups Yet if Blacks wanted to get involved in a Diwali, Mela, Hanukah or St. Patrick’s Day event there is often serious opposition from these so called none African community religious and political leaders.
In essence, the British version of Black History Month has been hijacked by social groups that are so far removed from the Black experience it is ridiculous. That hasn’t happened yet in the USA! White America and other ethnic minority groups are so racist that many of these groups have no real incentive or motivation to hijack Black History Month. To be fair to American society, there is no confusion about race or cultural identity. The USA, really does allow you to celebrate who you are in a much undiluted manner. It’s a situation that is clearly understood and respected. Besides African Americans would never allow anyone who is not Black to cal themselves Black. People of colour may be! Black! I really don’t thinks so.
Celebrants of Black history must also make it clear that some of the very same ethnic minority groups that consider themselves politically black have also been involved in the oppression of Africans in the Diaspora. I find it highly, offensive that these said groups continue to show disrespect for the Black community and yet they have the nerve to call themselves politically Black.
Historical and current events clearly show that many of these UK based ethnic minority groups have treated African in the Diaspora worse than white folks do if they were given the opportunity! In fact some of then have and still do. The situation in Sudan, India, China, and Russia, Turkey and Greece, are a few places where people of African origin are treated less than animals yet they want to muscle in on Black History Month!
There is no way that would ever happen in the USA, the boundaries are too clearly defined. No one has a monopoly on history. Other groups can celebrate Black history month, but they should not be allowed to slip their cultural nuances into the equation, to the point that the only thing Black about Black History Month is the title!
Black Britain must not accept the current substandard offerings of Black History Month! We must regain ideological control of African History. Blacks in Britain must prevail in Black History Month celebrations. If Blacks in Britain are not careful they will have nothing left to celebrate! I put it to the readers in no uncertain terms that if the current state of affairs continues, that is allowing other groups to determine how Black history is celebrated, Blacks in Britain will have a greater affinity with Kebabs Somosas Sahris than Reggae, Rice and Peas Steel Bands!
In the meantime I’ll be waiting until February to celebrate the US version of Black History Month. The Black British version is just not for me. No doubt it will change. I am just not prepared to wait!
END