In a move that has ignited debate across the United States, President Donald Trump used Black History Month to redefine how the nation should remember and honor Black Americans and in doing so, raised fresh questions about the place of race and history in the country’s collective memory.
On February 3, Trump issued an official proclamation designed to fold Black History Month into the broader narrative of the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary of independence, declaring that “‘black history’ is not distinct from American history,” but “an indispensable chapter in our grand American story.”
The president’s statement praised “countless black American heroes” whose achievements span government, military, culture, and the economy, but stopped short of acknowledging the distinct struggles Black people have faced in America. Instead, Trump wrote, “This month…we do not celebrate our differences. Instead, we celebrate the contributions of black Americans to our national greatness.”
Critics argue this approach glosses over the historical hardships of slavery, segregation, and ongoing racial inequality by minimizing Black history as a standalone subject worth separate reflection.
In the same proclamation, Trump highlighted plans for his proposed National Garden of American Heroes, saying the new park will feature figures such as Booker T. Washington and Jackie Robinson, although not in a way that centers Black history.
The document closes with Trump pivoting to broader campaign style themes: “I am fighting every day to make our neighborhoods safer, groceries more affordable, and the American Dream more attainable for all Americans.”
