Mixed messages, real consequences: the fight for DEI continues in 2025

As February unfolds, institutions across the country recognize Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the struggles, contributions and cultural impact of African Americans. Yet, in 2025, the observance of such months is caught in the crossfire of a larger political battle over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). While the White House and the Pentagon send conflicting messages about continuing these recognitions, anti-DEI efforts at the state and federal levels threaten to erode their significance.

On Jan. 31, a report from the Associated Press highlighted the Trump administration’s past recognition of Black History Month despite simultaneous policies that actively undermined racial justice efforts. Today, similar patterns emerge, and public acknowledgments of such enriching celebrations coexist with policy actions that weaken DEI initiatives. A news release from the Defense Department titled “Identity Months Dead at DOD” says official resources, including working hours, will no longer be used to mark cultural awareness months. Without contextual support, this leaves many to question the sincerity and longevity of these recognitions.

Black History Month traces back to 1915, when historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to promote Black achievements. In 1926, the organization launched Negro History Week, choosing the second week of February to align with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Over the decades, this initiative gained traction, evolving into Black History Month by the late 1960s before being officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans.” Since then, every U.S. president has designated February as Black History Month, with each year embracing a unique theme.

The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work—both free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—has intersected with the collective experiences of Black people. From enslaved Africans whose labor built the early American economy to the fight for fair wages and labor rights, Black workers have played a transformational role throughout history. This theme also highlights the significance of self-help strategies, entrepreneurship and the role of organized labor in combating economic and social injustices across the U.S., Africa and the Diaspora.

For institutions like CSB+SJU, this moment presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Governed by Benedictine values of hospitality, respect and justice, our universities aim to create an inclusive community where every individual is valued and supported. The Benedictine tradition calls for an unwavering commitment to upholding human dignity and principles that stand in direct opposition to the weakening of DEI initiatives. Beyond institutional commitments, CSB+SJU’s vibrant student body plays a crucial role in fostering diversity. Organizations such as Exploring Latin American Culture (ELAC), Archipelago Caribbean Association (ACA), Black Student Union (BSU), African Student Association (ASA), Japanese Bunka Club, Chinese Cross Cultural Communication Club, Indigenous Student Association Club and Hmong Americans Involving Students (HAIS) create spaces for cultural celebration, education and advocacy. These clubs ensure that diversity isn’t just recognized but actively embraced on campus.

Together with the general student populace and institutional administration, a brotherhood and sisterhood rooted in inclusivity—affirming that diversity strengthens both education and campus life—was built. Black History Month, along with Women’s History Month, Pride Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month and other such observances has been a key part of this commitment. However, as national rhetoric shifts, so too does the need for institutions to reaffirm and defend their values. If anti-DEI efforts continue gaining traction, colleges and universities must decide: Will they merely observe these months as a routine, or will they actively protect the policies and spaces that make these celebrations meaningful? Recognizing Black history cannot be a symbolic gesture; it must be reinforced by a commitment to racial equity beyond February.

For CSB+SJU, this is particularly on this innate understanding of acceptance, how will the institutions respond to growing national hostility toward DEI? This is not just a question for administrators but for students, faculty and staff. Ensuring that our commitment to diversity does not become performative requires continuous effort.

In the face of societal contradictions, CSB+SJU must affirm that Black History Month, and every recognition of marginalized communities, is more than a tradition. It is a statement of our unwavering commitment to justice. If the broader political landscape seeks to diminish DEI, then institutions like ours must stand firm in upholding it.