Trump’s executive orders signal an all-out assault on racial progress by Black Americans

The first few days of Donald Trump’s second term have proven immigrants are not the only targets of his ire. He is also seemingly determined to implement policies that will harm African Americans and restrict federal efforts that are meant to address anti-Black racism.

In a raft of executive orders, firings, and policy reversals, Trump has begun what looks to be an all-out assault on Black progress in America.

It is the most deliberate attempt to move backward on racial progress I have ever seen, and it’s chilling. Not just because of Trump’s actions, but because of the speed with which he is moving.

In a White House document called “Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” the Trump administration reversed a number of Biden’s executive orders. The first on the list was Executive Order 13985: “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”

In essence, the Trump administration, in its own words, has characterized racial equity as “harmful,” and it is moving to reverse any efforts in that regard.

Not only that, the administration intends to fire federal employees whose jobs are connected to diversity, equity, and inclusion — a framework designed to promote fair treatment of historically marginalized people. Though DEI programs assist various groups, the term “DEI hire” has become a pejorative that most often targets African Americans.

The question, for the Black community, is how to respond to the Trump administration’s racial policies. In my view, there is but one answer. Rather than succumb to the Trump agenda, Black Americans must have an agenda of our own.

We can’t stand by and watch as the Trump administration seeks to scuttle birthright citizenship, a constitutional provision that is contained in the 14th Amendment.

Though Trump claims his efforts are meant to prevent the children of immigrants from becoming citizens — and a federal judge has blocked Trump for now — any attempt to change that amendment should be of great concern to Black people.

That’s because the 14th Amendment was not adopted to protect immigrants. It was enacted to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.

That historical fact is but one of the reasons it’s so important for all Americans to have a basic understanding of our nation’s past. Perhaps if we did, we would understand the divide-and-conquer strategy Trump has used to attack Black Americans and other groups is not new.

The divide-and-conquer strategy that Trump has used to attack Black Americans and other groups is not new.

Even before the administration announced its plans to eliminate DEI roles, most workers in those positions were already being placed on paid leave with the expectation they would be fired.

Federal employees were warned last week that they could face discipline if they failed to help the new administration identify their colleagues who work in DEI-related jobs.

“We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language,” read a mass email to government workers, according to NBC News.

My mind immediately went back to what I’d learned of the secret Nazi police known as the Gestapo. They encouraged people to inform on their neighbors, family, and friends in order to root out Jews and their allies. Similarly, these emails, sent by government operatives right here in America, sought to root out those who might sympathize with the Black community.

It’s clear that Trump, who, in addition to his attacks on DEI and the 14th Amendment, revoked a decades-old executive order banning discrimination in federal contracting, is adopting policies that will deepen America’s racial inequality.

This is no time to feign ignorance.

Nor is it a time to be silent.

African Americans must accept the fact that Trump is our nation’s leader.

Then we must accept the mantle of leadership in our own communities.

That means knowing enough of our history to teach it to our children.

It means knowing enough about victory to win the battles that are coming.

It means recommitting ourselves to the work of our forebears in the struggle, who did far more than just dream.

African Americans must band together to patronize Black businesses, lean on Black faith, protect Black families, and build Black wealth.

We must choose this path as the way forward because the only correct response to Trump’s divide-and-conquer agenda is for Black people everywhere to unite, fight, and persevere.