Happy Black History Month!
One hundred years ago, Carter G. Woodson introduced a radical idea: an entire week to elevate Black life in America. At a time when black people were largely erased from textbooks, institutions, and public life, Woodson insisted that Black educators, inventors, thinkers, and builders deserved recognition. What started as Negro History Week grew into Black History Month.
A century later, the conditions that made Woodson’s vision necessary have not disappeared. In fact, this Black History Month arrives at a moment when Black history is being minimized and deliberately erased by political forces intent on reshaping our country’s narrative. Over the past several years, erasure has manifested through attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have been deliberately mischaracterized and turned into a political punching bag. Yet recent retreats from some of these attacks remind us of these vital truths: sustained pressure works. Organizing works. Truth-telling works.
The recent reversals did not happen because equity suddenly became politically convenient. They happened because we refused to accept erasure. This current administration retreated because we didn‘t.
What DEI Actually Represents
Despite the rhetoric surrounding it, DEI is neither radical nor exclusionary. In practice, it simply means:
* Diversity: Acknowledges the full spectrum of identities and life experiences that shape our society.
* Equity: Leveling the playing field so that outcomes are not predetermined by race, zip code, or wealth.
* Inclusion: Affirms that those most impacted should have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
DEI doesn‘t exist to put one group down to uplift another. It exists because the legacy and consequences of white supremacy, segregation, disinvestment, and exclusion are measurable and tangible. When the administration retreated from broadside assaults on DEI initiatives, it wasn‘t because the people rejected equity. It was because persistent pushback raised the price of injustice.
The backlash against DEI did not come out of nowhere—it is rooted in the historical erasure of Black history itself. When slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, school segregation, mass incarceration, and state violence are minimized or excluded from classrooms, society, and public discourse, inequity can be reframed as a coincidence rather than by design. This historical amnesia makes it easier to dismiss equity as unnecessary, or worse, as preferential treatment. Carter G. Woodson clearly understood this danger. Black History Week/Month was never intended as a celebration detached from struggle. It was designed to counter erasure and make injustice visible.
Why Equity Programs Matter
Equity initiatives are put in place to repair the harm, not create division. When these programs are dismantled, the effects are immediate and profound:
* Students lose their mentors and support systems.
* Opportunities become fewer and farther between for some, and disappear entirely for others.
* Community members no longer trust the institutions that are supposed to serve them.
A recent court victory against federal overreach may appear significant on paper, but when programs have already been eliminated, staff have been terminated, and students have been pushed out, the victory can seem hollow. That reality is exactly why we must continue to organize in communities to build durable progress.
From National Rhetoric to South LA Reality
The national debate about equity hit close to home. In South Los Angeles, attacks on DEI seem to target programs such as the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) and the Student Equity Needs Index (SENI), which direct resources to schools serving students with the greatest needs.
They‘re not abstract concepts. They decide if schools that serve Black and Brown students have counselors, nurses, arts programs, and safe spaces for learning. Rolling back these efforts doesn’t create neutrality; it maintains an already unequal system.
A Centennial Call to Action
Black History Month is not only about remembrance, but it’s also a reminder of the work ahead and the opportunity to do it! Join us at Community Coalition’s Campaign Meeting at 8101 S. Vermont to reflect, organize, and advance together as one. Because we know that unity isn’t just possible, it’s necessary. For more info, contact communityorganizing@cocosouthla.org.