Efforts to whitewash American history continue under the guise of protecting our nation from the “evils” of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
From the White House to the outhouse, DEI opponents say related initiatives focus on race and gender at the expense of individual merit. And since the changing of the guard at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Americans have witnessed a plethora of executive orders, courtroom showdowns, and social media posts decrying DEI as “reverse discrimination” in which white people are the victims.
But if our leaders were honest, they’d admit that their plan is to sanitize an almost 250-year history so that children, malleable adults and future generations can more easily swallow acts of oppression, domination and violence from our past.
They’d like us to believe that slavery, the subjugation of women, the destruction of indigenous people like Native Americans, the Holocaust, Jim Crow, and the mental and physical assault on those who identify as LGBTQIA+ that have punctuated U.S. history were little more than minor infractions – deeds committed for the good of the nation.
However, to pull off this massive erasure of history has required a well-developed blueprint and so far, there’s been little opposition to the game plan.
African Americans should be particularly incensed by the recent removal of nearly 400 books from the U.S. Naval Academy’s library that provide the facts behind the Holocaust, the CivilRights Movement and the history of feminism. But note: the initial list of items on the chopping block, according to officials, hovered at around 900 books.
In addition, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) – one of the newest educational gems on the National Mall – was recently impacted by another executive order that, in simplest terms, counts as a blatant effort to rewrite America’s history. NMAAHC was ordered to take down certain exhibits which the president said were attempts to portray “American and Western culture as harmful.”
And early this year, again following an executive order, the Air Force removed videos of the Tuskegee Airmen from basic training courses. However, the history of the World War II fighter pilots was quickly returned to the curriculum following a surge of public outcry and criticism.
As the executive director of Teaching for Change, Deborah Menkart, told The Washington Informer, “We’re going to need to defend not only teaching truthfully about U.S. history in pre-K through 12th grade, but also [in] museums that help teach that history to people from all over the world who come to visit Washington, D.C. The future of this country depends on what people understand about history.”
Menkart’s observation is on the money. However, there are two famous quotations from the past that are equally accurate and must be considered by all Americans, race notwithstanding.
As Karl Marx said, “History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.”
And of course, the most well-known quote about history repeating itself was said by the Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
While the Bible says that “the truth” will set people free (John 8:32), access to and knowledge of truth is key.
If Trump’s efforts continue in the direction they’re going, the truth will be obscured, rewritten and destroyed.
As Menkart urged, it is critical we all speak out against work to erase the diverse people who have contributed to the progress and strengthening of the nation.
Further, it’s important to combat misinformation by uplifting the truth. Preserving and revealing truths is the only way to combat hatred and oppression, and to truly be set free.