Other countries have their own unique ways of celebrating BHM

Shakell James Staff Writer

Black History Month (BHM) originated in the United States as Negro History Week in February 1926 and has since blossomed into a month where people around the world in countries like Canada, Germany, and Ireland celebrate culture, heritage, and history.

Though these countries may recognize BHM, each of them has their own unique ways of celebration and acknowledgment. Canada and Germany celebrate BHM in February along with the U.S. in February.

According to Canadian Heritage, Black Canadians and their communities have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. And similar to the U.S., the role of Black people has largely been ignored as a key part of Canada’s history.

After the establishment of the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) in 1978 and presented a petition of the City of Toronto to have February proclaimed as Black History Month. The first-ever Canadian proclamation for BHM was issued by Toronto in 1979.

However, the first BHM in Nova Scotia was observed in 1988, but it was not formally recognized as BHM until 1993 after OBHS successfully filed a petition solidifying BHM. It was later renamed African Heritage Month in 1996.

Germany also joined their BHM celebrations in the 1990s, the year

2023 marks the 34th anniversary of BHM in celebrations in Berlin.

According to the African American Intellectual Honor Society (AAIHS), BHM was established to represent a clear manifestation of African diasporic politics and solidarity, particularly with themes that ranged from Black German history to African literature in Europe to South African Apartheid to U.S. Civil Rights activism. But things are different in The United Kingdom and BHM begins in October. So for instance BHM in Ireland always presents their BHM with a set theme. The theme for their 2022 celebration was ‘Celebrating

Black Excellence: Looking Back to Shape the Future’.

Though their BHM has a theme the overall message of it never changes, hosting various events including seminars, workshops, and theater productions to appreciate the holiday.

Some countries in Europe celebrate in March like Belgium, started by the African Youth Organization in 2017, while being arranged by the non-profit organization Our Stories Uncensored since the year 2019. The cities of Limburg, Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels, and Schaerbeek participate in the many acts of this month.

Ryan Williams, a senior business administration major from Atlanta, Ga., said it takes more than one month to embrace heritage.

“It’s more than a month if you really celebrate who you are. Every day you use something that was created by black people, so to me it’s a year-round 24/7 celebration,” Williams said.

Cody Powell, a freshman psychology major from St. Louis, Mo., feels as though the celebration of the holiday is imperative.

“We choose to celebrate holidays as an appreciation of our people in different ways and not just the traditional way,” Powell said.

Elisha Brown, a junior elementary education major from Columbia, Miss., believes that the duration of the celebration speaks volume.

“It does show that the world is showing major progress. However, it is 12 months in a year and Black History Month can be equally celebrated in all months. We should not become complacent because we are now being recognized when we should have been receiving that all along!”

The time of the celebration may be different, the purpose is the same. It’s a time to reflect on our traditions, struggles, and accomplishments. The culture is celebrated continuously, pridefully, and beautifully.