Donald Trump is whitewashing Black history. Don’t let him get away with it | Opinion
It is painfully clear that President Donald Trump is attempting to whitewash America’s past. He is glossing over the worst chapters of our history and once again relegating certain Americans — meaning Americans who do not look and think like him — to minor roles.
Just look at what he’s done to Black History Month.
Yes, he did issue a proclamation in recognition of National Black History Month, urging that we “observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.”
It praises “American heroes such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Thomas Sowell, Justice Clarence Thomas, and countless others ...” (Martin Luther King Jr. is notably absent from the list.)
It goes on to laud Tiger Woods for pushing “the boundaries of excellence.” It also expresses “tremendous gratitude to black Americans for all they have done to bring us to this moment” — a possible reference to Black voters who supported him?
Trump’s proclamation is nothing more than window dressing.
It ignores all that Black Americans have endured, starting with the original sin of slavery and continuing through the Confederacy, Jim Crow laws, segregation and ongoing discrimination in education, employment, health care, housing, policing and criminal justice.
Donald Trump acknowledges none of that. Instead, he frets about the “anti-white feeling” in America and vows to the protect civil rights of white people by dismantling diversity programs.
At the Department of Defense, ‘identity months’ are dead
Black History Month was among the first targets.
On Jan. 31, the Department of Defense declared Black History Month — along with all other “identity months” — dead, according to this “guidance” issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth:
“Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. Service members and civilians remain permitted to attend these events in an unofficial capacity outside of duty hours.”
Underlings were quick to comply.
The Defense Intelligence Agency, according to NBC News, “ordered a pause of all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other ‘special observances.’”
Military academies reportedly removed posters honoring people of color and women. In a post on X, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said he was told a school at an overseas military base removed photos of Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr., but allowed a picture of Leonardo da Vinci to remain.
This should surprise no one.
It’s of a piece with Trump’s efforts to obliterate anything that could be even remotely considered DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — in much the same way Sen. Joseph McCarthy went after Communists in the 1950s.
After all, a president who has the arrogance to rename the Gulf of Mexico — and to ban from the White House any reporter who refuses to call it the “Gulf of America” — would have no compunction about trying to rewrite history.
The question is, where will it end?
Will Trump wipe Juneteenth or Cesar Chavez Day or Indigenous Peoples Day from the federal calendar? Defund any government agency that flies the Pride Flag from a public building? Punish schools that dare to discuss systemic racism or white privilege — unless it’s to vehemently deny that either exists?
An act of defiance
Fortunately for Californians, state and local governments are not bending the knee to Trump on DEI issues — at least not yet.
Over the past couple of weeks, cities, counties and school districts throughout the state recognized Black History Month, despite what is going on in Washington, D.C.
Even conservative Huntington Beach — which briefly suspended recognition of all cultural observances in 2023, including Black History and Women’s History months — got back on board and acknowledged the “countless contributions of African Americans who have shaped our nation.”
These were, for the most part, pro forma recognitions, not unlike the dozens of other resolutions and proclamations that public agencies routinely approve every year.
Yet in the current atmosphere, recognizing Black History Month seemed almost like an act of defiance when the Trump administration is doing its best to abolish recognition or assistance for anyone who is Black or Latino or Middle Eastern or transgender or gay or, in certain cases, female.
It’s also noteworthy that at least some local governments did not shy away from mentioning the hardships and discrimination Black Americans face to this day.
Consider two passages in a Black History Month resolution recently passed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors:
“...throughout history, Black and African Americans have experienced and endured injustices and inequities — from societal and institutional biases to bigotry rooted in experiences of diaspora and displacement, systemic oppression, and white supremacy;
“... it is a moral and justice-based imperative that each of us learns about, sheds light upon, and condemns such injustices and inequities that Black and African Americans continue to experience and endure, but moreover that each of us take action to build community, amplify their voices, and realize true change.”
That is powerful language that would be eviscerated in the Trump White House.
But as much as the president would like us to overlook the ugliest chapters of our history, he will fail miserably as long as enough Americans are willing to do as the SLO County resolution suggests: learn about, shed light upon and condemn injustices and inequities — wherever and whenever they occur.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Donald Trump is whitewashing Black history. Don’t let him get away with it | Opinion."