The Cost of Progress Beyond Performance

As this series comes to a close, the desire to be aspirational—inspirational, even—rings hollow. For many, Black History Month is little more than an opportunity to misappropriate and exploit Black culture for financial or reputational benefit—often both. It’s a performative gesture for people, companies and institutions who otherwise ignore Black people, and our cries for our lives to matter, the other 337 days out of the year.