Outside the Beltway

It’s Black History Month

Or is it?

James Joyner
17

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The White House, January 31, 2025

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
A PROCLAMATION

Today, I am very honored to recognize February 2025 as National Black History Month.

Every year, National Black History Month is an occasion to celebrate the contributions of so many black American patriots who have indelibly shaped our Nation’s history.

Throughout our history, black Americans have been among our country’s most consequential leaders, shaping the cultural and political destiny of our Nation in profound ways.  American heroes such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Thomas Sowell, Justice Clarence Thomas, and countless others represent what is best in America and her citizens.  Their achievements, which have monumentally advanced the tradition of equality under the law in our great country, continue to serve as an inspiration for all Americans.  We will also never forget the achievements of American greats like Tiger Woods, who have pushed the boundaries of excellence in their respective fields, paving the way for others to follow. 

This National Black History Month, as America prepares to enter a historic Golden Age, I want to extend my tremendous gratitude to black Americans for all they have done to bring us to this moment, and for the many future contributions they will make as we advance into a future of limitless possibility under my Administration.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2025 as National Black History Month.  I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

U.S. Department of Defense, January 31, 2025

Guidance from the Secretary of Defense: “Identity Months Dead at DoD”

Our unity and purpose are instrumental to meeting the Department’s warfighting mission. Efforts to divide the force – to put one group ahead of another – erode camaraderie and threaten mission execution.

Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. Service members and civilians remain permitted to attend these events in an unofficial capacity outside of duty hours.

Installations, units, and offices are encouraged to celebrate the valor and success of military heroes of all races, genders, and backgrounds as we restore our warrior culture and ethos. We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the character of their service instead of their immutable characteristics.

This guidance is effectively immediately.

Submitted without comment.

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17 responses to “It’s Black History Month”

  1. Winecoff46 Avatar
    Winecoff46

    I wonder if former President Obama, our first black elected President, will weigh in on the Secretary of Defense’s guidance regarding Black History Month. The same can be said for former Vice President Kamala Harris with respect to that and Women’s History Month.

    2
  2. Mister Bluster Avatar
    Mister Bluster

    “Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” Malcolm X

    5
  3. Steven L. Taylor Avatar
    Steven L. Taylor

    This “Golden Age” stuff is both cringeworthy and very totalitarian sounding.

    7
  4. steve Avatar
    steve

    Every month is white male history month so I think there is some merit in having those months. Besides, most people ignore them anyway.

    As an aside, I am not happy with this harping on “warrior culture”. Is this something your officer students talk about? Having been both an officer and spent a lot of time in management, I really think the emphasis should be on teamwork and completing the mission. The warrior ethos seems to emphasize individualism and fails to recognize the importance of support groups like logistics and engineering.

    Steve

    7
  5. James Joyner Avatar
    James Joyner

    @steve: It’s a longstanding debate and, really, comes down to what one means by “warrior culture.” Is it about sacrifice, discipline, comradery, and esprit de corps? Or is it about masculinity, glory-seeking, and a thirst for killing?

    3
  6. Flat Earth Luddite Avatar
    Flat Earth Luddite

    @steve:

    1. Truth truthily truthed.

    2. Interesting thought. I’d really like to hear Dr. J’s thoughts on. Seriously timely topic.

    ETA Dr. J you tagged back, and thanks. I’ve sat at the table with former troops, listening to their views on the differences between “warriors” and “professionals” in combat settings. IIRC, they saw warriors as more about individual glory. But that was long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

    But I’d love to hear these discussions between and amongst serving officers. Thanks!

    2
  7. ,just nutha Avatar
    ,just nutha

    @Winecoff46: I wonder whether the 50%+ that voted against Harris in the recent election giveafwk about what they think. But I also believe in constituent service, so if it’s important to you to hear the right thing said (see Republican House and Senate caucuses @ recent hearings), sure, let’s hear them out.

  8. Jim Brown 32 Avatar
    Jim Brown 32

    These months were for the increasingly, intellectually and emotionally stunted white population’s edification.

    They’ve decided they don’t want them–Blacks, women, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders don’t need a month to remember their history.

    Our history is our gift from our ancestors, these stories of tremendous perseverance, grit, intellect, and innovation are not for swine to trample on. Enjoy your riveting, and mostly fake(except the body counts), white history.

    4
  9. Cheryl Rofer Avatar
    Cheryl Rofer

    Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman – Okay but a long time ago.

    Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas – Barfing emoji

    This proclamation is a slap in the face.

    4
  10. Jay L Gischer Avatar
    Jay L Gischer

    @Jim Brown 32:

    It kinda feels like the same mindset that can work itself up to a fever about “why is there no White History Month?” can also work itself into a fever over “trans people don’t exist!” In both cases, nothing has been done to them.

    I personally am quite happy to learn, for instance, about sailors like Dory Miller. Which only happened when we decided to name a ship after him. I just recently rewatched Tora, Tora, Tora and discovered to my surprise that he was depicted. Not named, but there is may 20 seconds of footage recreating how he jumped into a AA gun whose crew had been taken out. There he was.

    And to some, this represents injury somehow. All I can imagine is that they are damaged in some other way, and that damage is acting out. As they say, hurt people hurt people.

    And by the way, that was a very badass comment. Slow clap. I’m just some idiot white dude, but Ima try and support you as best I can.

    3
  11. al Ameda Avatar
    al Ameda

    Executive Order prohibiting mention of Black History Month, incoming … 5 4 3 2 …

    4
  12. Jim Brown 32 Avatar
    Jim Brown 32

    @steve: Only a fool believes that they can effect culture from 1000s of miles away in the Pentagon ivory tower

    This is what happens when give the reigns to a part-time major who did a couple to tours at the tactical level. A Major has pretty big breeches at that level They can set the culture because many of your troops are in their early 20s. They are malleable and take direct cues for their Commander and Senior Enlisted.

    As you move up the ranks you are managing and working for/with people who have just as much experience as you. They have spouses, kids, and grandkids. The culture is “professional” at the level. But Hegseth can try to bring his gimmicky ‘Warrior Culture’ to a building of Senior officers (many who have more combat time than him) and see how it plays–it won’t. No one in that building respects his resume.

    3
  13. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    @steve:

    Besides, most people ignore them anyway.

    Respectfully, I disagree. Pride is incredibly important to me and my family. I took my son, who I full expect to grow up to be straight last year. I went with two gay men friends and we explained to him that these are his people, his culture too. It was important for us to be there and share that.

    I was also thinking about whether or not my friends will be safe here when I leave. Then I remembered Gov. Pritzger walking at the front of the parade, I think it was two years ago. Someone tossed him a Jell-O shot. He caught it out of the air, downed it and everyone cheered. That act is a reminder that he’s with us. He’s not focused grouped drone, he took our hospitality and accepted fully and beautifully.

    I see that @Jim Brown 32: disagrees with me (I think), but I fully agree with him that, for us, Pride is a:

    gift from our ancestors, these stories of tremendous perseverance, grit, intellect, and innovation are not for swine to trample on.

    5
  14. Daryl Avatar
    Daryl

    @Jim Brown 32:

    No one in that building respects his resume.

    I’ve said it here before; a mediocre white male, like Hegseth, rising to a position of immense power for which he is wholly unqualified for is absolute proof of the need for DEI. I wish it were not necessary. President Doughboy is proving that it is.

    4
  15. DeD Avatar
    DeD

    We had X History Month video presentations at muster, usually every day for the first week of the month. It was always cringeworthily uncomfortable watching all the White dudes’facial expressions of disgust and disdain. I just as soon would have done away with these presentations, rather than sit through the ill-disguised contempt.

    4
  16. JohnSF Avatar
    JohnSF

    As a person inclined to history as an avocation, I think ever month should be Black, and whatever other various shades you may designate, month.

    The whole history of humanity indicates a tendency of those in power to justify the oppression of others, and to co-opt their own ethnic subordinated group into a hierarchical subordination of “others” who are yet more “inferior”.
    And how convenient it was that skin colour could provide an obvious categorization.

    It’s rather ironic, how the Western/Christendom society degenerated into the view of “different skin = inferior = right to enslave”.
    And subsequently, the view of former dominant racial groups in a previously colour-based slave society:
    Our forefathers enslaved “Blacks”.
    Our forefathers must be good, because reasons.
    Therefore, “Blacks” should shut up about it.

    2
  17. JohnSF Avatar
    JohnSF

    @Jim Brown 32:
    “Warrior culture”
    It’s just silly.
    The UK and US in 1939 were about as far from “warrior culture” as is imaginable.
    Japan and Germany, otoh, lauded “warrior culture”.
    And got stomped into a bloody mess by people who did not.
    Lesson to warriors: the non-warriors ain’t necessarily sheep.
    They can bite, and bite hard.

    I’ve known a lot of war veterans; it just goes with being my age group and (Brit) class group. “Warrior” was not their thing.
    A friend of my father was a benign and bespectacled lover of literature.
    And also a WW2 Bomber Command operations planner.
    On the whole, probably better to fight Conan the Barbarian than Reginald Dempsey.

    4

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