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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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The Rollback: DEI Under Attack
The Trump Administration’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) significantly impacted how we remember our nation’s history. The removal of key historical information from the Arlington National Cemetery website represents a very calculated move. This action demonstrates a broader trend of minimizing the contributions of Black, Hispanic, and female veterans.
Essentially this was caused primarily by the rollback of DEI guidelines. These guidelines, intended to create a more inclusive environment, were reversed, which had rippling effects across federal entities, consequently including Arlington National Cemetery (WTOP). The stories of those who served, particularly those from marginalized communities, were effectively removed from public view. As African Americans, we understand the long history of our stories being erased or distorted. And it is extremely difficult to accept that information has been removed from the website.
Arlington National Cemetery DEI Impacts
The practical effect of these DEI rollbacks was the “scrubbing” of Arlington National Cemetery’s website. Entire sections dedicated to African American history, women’s history, the Reconstruction era, and broader Civil War-related content vanished. The removal indicates more than just an administrative action. It appeared to be part of a deliberate effort to rewrite the narrative presented by the official website of our nation’s most revered military cemetery.
Walking tours and pages honoring significant figures like Major General Charles Calvin Rogers were also removed (PBS NewsHour). Furthermore, even training materials referencing groups like the famed Tuskegee Airmen and the Navajo Code Talkers were temporarily taken down. For the Black community, the Tuskegee Airmen are not just a historical footnote; they represent a pivotal moment in our struggle for recognition and equality. Subsequently, removing accounts like these felt like silencing the courageous voices of Black veterans.
DEI Rollback’s Impact
diverse veterans removed
Charles Calvin Rogers pages removed
Erasing Medgar Evers: Military History
Perhaps one of the most glaring removals was that of Medgar Evers. Evers, a World War II veteran *and* a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, had his biography stripped from the cemetery’s website. Paradoxically, this occurred despite prior praise from Trump himself, who had once called Evers “a great American hero” (Mississippi Today). This highlights a disturbing contradiction: honoring a man publicly, yet erasing his memory institutionally.
For those of us in the Black community, Medgar Evers is more than just a name. He represents the fight for justice and equality. Removing his story from a place as prominent as Arlington is deeply concerning, in addition it feels like an attempt to erase the struggles and sacrifices he made. Moreover, it minimizes his contributions, not just as a soldier, but as a champion of civil rights.
The Threat to American History
Historians have rightly expressed grave concern over these alterations. The fear is that sanitizing these historical accounts diminishes the full, complex picture of American history. Furthermore, it reduces the visibility of marginalized groups’ contributions and sacrifices. By selectively removing stories that highlight the struggles for racial justice, there’s a risk of presenting a skewed version of our past.
As historian Kevin Levin pointed out, Medgar Evers’ military service and his civil rights activism are interwoven; they cannot be separated (Mississippi Today). To remove his story is to fundamentally distort not only *his* legacy but also the broader narrative of American history. For us, this feels all too familiar – a continuation of the historical pattern where Black achievements and struggles are minimized or outright erased.
Understanding DEI: Key Definitions
Core Components of DEI
Backlash, Restoration, and Political History
There was some pushback, and it did lead to limited results. The Defense Department eventually restored some content, notably the Medal of Honor page for Charles Calvin Rogers (PBS NewsHour). But even in this restoration, troubling signs remained. The page was initially labeled with the odd phrase “DEI Medal of Honor,” suggesting that even in restoration, there was a reluctance to fully embrace the spirit of inclusivity.
Congressman Bennie Thompson pointed out a larger contradiction. He noted that while claiming to honor veterans, the Trump administration also oversaw substantial firings at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This type of behavior are political actions with impacts that are significant in a variety of different ways (Mississippi Today). Ultimately, this incident at Arlington National Cemetery is, unfortunately, a mirror reflecting a deeper struggle over whose stories are valued and preserved in our national memory.
Executive Order Timeline
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
