President Donald Trump's Black History Month Celebration
President Donald Trump plans to honor Black Americans’ vast contributions to the nation during a White House celebration on Thursday that coincides with his first full month back in office.
Trump spent that month abolishing decades of diversity efforts throughout the federal government and beyond, removing many Black employees from the federal workforce, and leading a culture war on “woke” diversity, equity and inclusion policies he disparaged as “dangerous” and “immoral” race-based programs.
Some view Trump’s Black History Month celebration as evidence his outreach to Black Americans isn’t in conflict with his pledge to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion policies throughout the government he oversees.
Trump is the only one slated to speak at the Black History Month event, which was rescheduled from last week due to inclement weather, and he isn’t expected to sign any executive orders, according to a person familiar with the plans. Organizers said the extra days afforded them time to plan a larger event. The White House declined to comment further.
Controversy and Criticism
During Trump’s first days back in office, he signed executive orders cracking down on DEI initiatives. He promised to eradicate the once-bipartisan policies not just from the civil service he oversees but to use the federal government to “combat illegal private-sector DEI,” too.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered all identity month celebrations, including Black History Month, be stripped from the military.
“I understand how people are saying, wait a minute, so are we not doing DEI? Are we not recognizing what Black people are doing?” said Shermichael Singleton, a prominent Black GOP strategist, who is also scheduled to attend the White House’s event. “I can see how people can be a little confused.”
Reactions and Responses
Some Black Republicans point out the irony of Trump’s comments as a candidate compared to his actions in his return to the White House. During his first presidential debate last cycle he assailed Biden’s immigration policies arguing they were detrimental to “Black jobs.” But just a month into his second term, he can be seen as a driving force to eliminate them.
Trump’s directive to gut the federal workforce across agencies of federal workers — of whom one in five is Black, according to a 2023 OPM report.
For those Black Americans who remain in the federal workforce, some are concerned Trump’s DEI attacks are creating a toxic work environment.
“The fact that we are even discussing federal agencies canceling America’s cultural activities designed to celebrate America’s diversity is disturbing and disappointing,” said a senior Black conservative, who has been involved with every Republican administration dating back to Ronald Reagan and who was granted anonymity out of fear of reprisals from Trump allies. The person added that they hoped to see those types of programs “improved” rather than eliminating them, and that doing so was “disturbing and disappointing.”
Conclusion
Not all Black Republicans see a problem with what Trump is doing.
“DEI only works for the bourgeois and for contractors,” said Armstrong Williams, a Black conservative commentator and part owner of the Baltimore Sun. “Trump has the right message. It’s been inclusive of all Americans, not just segregating Americans.”
Michael Steele, who made history as the Republican National Committee’s first Black chair but who did not vote for Trump, doubts that the White House’s Black History Month celebration is a sincere overture to Black Americans.
“For Donald Trump, this has never been a serious effort,” Steele said, before ticking off a list of the president’s past statements disparaging Black Americans spanning decades including former President Barack Obama’s birthright citizenship and calling for the execution of the Central Park Five. “What is the point of this gathering, other than crowding the east room with a bunch of Black folks and pretending like you give a shit about what’s happening in our community?”
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