Trump attempts to strip youth of history

Educators fight to combat the distortion of America's past and preserve the truth.

By: Holdenn Graff, Sports Editor

Illustration by Milan Rafaelov

An unjust and deliberate attempt to erase any trace of diversity, equity and inclusion from the federal government marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to distort American history.

Several key stories honoring marginalized American heroes disappeared from official government platforms. Among the most prominent examples is the Department of Defense’s removal of features on Jackie Robinson, Ira Hayes and the Navajo Code Talkers from its website. Additionally, the Trump administration looks to dismantle the Department of Education, which plays a vital role in protecting civil rights and promoting equity for all students. 

“DEI is dead at the Defense Department,” said press secretary John Ullyot following the removal and eventual restoration (after massive backlash) of the Robinson article.“Discriminatory Equity Ideology is a form of Woke cultural Marxism that has no place in our military.”

The mass censorship efforts come as part of what Trump defines as a “digital content refresh”. In a memo released in late February by the Defense Department, it was stated that the DoD must remove all articles, photos and videos that promote DEI by March 5. The Trump administration also issued an executive order directing the Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department.

“They want to confirm a Secretary of Education and turn around and eliminate the Department of Education, that’s their objective,” said Sen. Alex Padilla. He is one of the vocal adversaries standing up against Trump’s agenda. “What I know from my experience, education is the key to the American dream…And that’s exactly what Republicans want to take away from us.”

The out-of-touch federal leaders are a perfect representation of why diversity initiatives exist in the first place – to challenge the systems and people who would rather erase the stories of those who don’t fit their vision of America. 

Robinson, who served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Ira Hayes was one of six Marines who raised the American flag at Iwo Jima. And the Navajo Code Talkers were heroes of World War II, using their native tongue to transmit secret messages and ensure that the Japanese would not be able to intercept them. Yet, somehow, these stories of courage, sacrifice and resilience are the ones being wiped away. It is not an accident, but a calculated choice to silence stories that give future generations a chance to understand the true history of the nation they live in.

As these efforts to eradicate history and dismantle critical institutions like the Department of Education unfold, it becomes clear that this is a multifaceted attack. Not only are marginalized communities being targeted, but the future itself. By erasing and undermining public education, these actions aim to create an environment for these powerful figures where citizens are uninformed and, therefore, more controllable. It’s a deliberate strategy to strip young people of the tools they need to think critically and demand justice.

“Not to sound dramatic, but democracy itself is at stake with our current administration and their eagerness to eliminate important stories and institutions from history,” says Valley librarian Mike FitzGerald. “It’s easy to get pessimistic about the future of our country right now, but those of us that work in librarianship tend to be a passionate bunch that put a lot of value in students having open access to information. I want the younger generation, and everyone, to know that information professionals like me are taking this situation very seriously and will continue to fight against it in any way we can.”