Every year, February presents us with the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate Black history. Conventional commemorations of Black History Month, however, tend to champion the contributions and accomplishments of a few individuals, both foreclosing a systemic critique of anti-Blackness and obscuring the diversity of Black lived experiences. This month, Christopher Harris, author of To Build a Black Future: The Radical Politics of Joy, Pain, and Care, reminds us that to celebrate Black history is to cherish everyday Black life, inclusive of all its multiplicity as well as the violence that often structures it. Doing so, both during Black History Month and beyond, could open us up to the radical politics of Black joy, pain, and care that may produce a liberatory future for us all.
About the Author
Christopher Paul Harris is assistant professor of global and international studies at the University of California, Irvine.