The most telling thing about the Pentagon’s Jackie Robinson reversal

[cartoon id="292449"] Federal websites have been a surprise target of President Trump, who ordered the Pentagon and other agencies to scan their pages and remove any content that promotes "diversity, equity and inclusion." Numerous websites under Pentagon control abruptly removed thousands of pages documenting the history of people of color, LGBTQ people, women, and others from marginalized backgrounds and their contributions to the American military. Following an order from Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot, multiple pages about baseball legend, military veteran, political activist, and public statesmen Jackie Robinson were removed, including a documentary about “Negro League” players discussing Robinson’s tenure in the military. Tidal waves of anger and outrage were followed by intense media coverage over this scurrilous and blatant disrespect directed toward the iconic Robinson. ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote on X: “The ghouls who did this should be ashamed. Jackie Robinson was the embodiment of an American hero. Fix this now.” Christina Karl, sports editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote on X: “Erasing Jackie Robinson’s fight against segregation while serving our country is the definition of un-American. Robinson’s battle to make this country better by empowering its diversity while fighting for equity & inclusion is the defining struggle of 20th century American sports.” Needless to say, the Trump administration quickly cut tail and reinstated the photos. They also quickly removed the fool who was in charge of this division to another department. He should have been terminated for incompetence. Outrage further festered when the Department of Defense’s response to reporters from various news outlets consisted of an e-mail that looked to be cut-and-pasted from the transcripts of fascist YouTube: a sub-world that Defense Secretary Peth Hegseth seems to be familiar with. The statement said celebrating the achievements of people of color like Robinson was an example of something the military now opposes: “cultural Marxism.” Yes, you read that correctly. Mind you, this is the same Hegseth who appears to believe women and people of color are inferior. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Hegseth and his motley crew of right-wing cohorts were not erasing Robinson solely because of his Blackness, but because of what is indisputable and undeniable to it: a life story cultivated by the reality of Jim Crow and American apartheid. Attempts to eradicate such a compelling narrative are intended not only to abolish past sins, but also to make a declarative statement on who gets to claim the status of “citizen” in the present. In Jackie Robinson’s case, restoring the information came too little too late. The perpetrators’ intentions were exposed, and the damage was done. No one should be all that surprised by such bigoted and reactionary antics. Trump adamantly and unabashedly campaigned on eradicating DEI throughout his campaign, despite having no idea what it entailed. His efforts received rapturous applause from his MAGA base, and being appeased by his supporters is his primary concern. Many members of his cabinet and other advisors around him — particularly the Project 2025 authors who unsparingly called to cut every DEI program that exists in government — do know what DEI eradication involves. Trump is dutifully following their suggestions. All federal DEI programs have been canceled, and the people running them have been terminated. Scientific research is being suppressed by orders from the National Institute of Health and Centers for Disease Control. University grantees are being forced to eliminate any research focused on diverse populations (including “women”). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice have targeted law firms, higher education institutions, and private companies, demanding they account for their diversity programs and suggesting that they are guilty of discriminatory hiring practices. This is a direct assault on racial and gender equality. These individuals believe the stories of particular patriots who overcame discrimination and adversity and became “pioneers” and the “few” are not important. Indeed, they resent such inspirational historical accounts that highlight race, gender, LGBTQIA+, non-Christian denominations, and so on. They would rather obscure, if not outright erase, all evidence of such discrimination and adversity altogether, acting as if such injustices never occurred. Trump and his cohort want to pretend the world is a meritocracy where white men just happen to be the best. DEI dispels such intellectually dishonest falsehoods. Those of us committed to fairness for all must make a valiant effort to prohibit such a retrograde and sinister agenda from reaching fruition. - Copyright 2025 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.