A s American schoolchildren have returned to schools over the last month, they’ve confronted a very different educational landscape than the one they found in classrooms last September. The second Trump Administration has not minced words regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in education. Along with gutting the Department of Education, attacking college accreditors, and requiring new standards for K-12 school discipline, President Donald Trump has taken steps toward dismantling the fruits of decades of civil rights activism in education.
Trump and his allies argue that the need for DEI has long passed. In their assessments, desegregation and the passage of time have cured all of America’s racial ills.
Yet, this argument rests on an ahistorical understanding of the civil rights movement — one in which its work is complete. This narrative neglects the systemic nature of discrimination, Black lived experiences, and ongoing activism…