How to Talk about Black History When Diversity is Under Attack

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

Black History Month has been officially celebrated in the U.S. since President Gerald Ford signed a proclamation nearly 50 years ago declaring the month of February as time to recognize the contributions Black people have made to the country. This year, though, the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion have put a chill on the celebrations. We talk about how we arrived at a place where honoring Black history is being questioned just five years after the so-called racial reckoning of 2020. Guests: Adam Harris, senior fellow, education policy program of New America; former education reporter, The Atlantic; author, "The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal--and How to Set Them Right" Michael Harriot, journalist; poet; public historian; author, "Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America."; co-founder, ContrabandCamp.com, a subscription-based journalism project covering the intersection of race, politics, and culture. Tiffany Caesar, assistant professor of Africana studies, San Francisco State University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, a wellness resort in Baja, California, just an hour from San Diego,
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0:27.3	Support for Forum comes from Broadway S.F. presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a
0:33.2	true story. From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and
0:39.7	Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused
0:46.3	of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice,
0:53.4	and devotion.
1:02.6	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orphium Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
1:06.9	Tickets on sale now at Broadway, sF.com.
1:09.5	From KQED. From KQED.
1:26.0	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
1:33.3	It was 99 years ago that Dr. Carter G. Woodson created a week for African American historical remembrance, which eventually grew into what we now call Black History Month.
1:36.3	Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976,
1:41.3	and the many stories of this time have diffused into the broader culture of the United States.
1:47.2	But this year, it feels different. The Trump administration's attacks on diversity, equity,
1:52.2	and inclusion have put a chill on the celebrations. We're going to talk about how we arrived at a place
1:57.5	where honoring Black history is being questioned just five years after the so-called
2:01.8	racial reckoning of 2020. It's all coming up next after this news.
2:14.1	Hey, Alexis Madrigal here. We've got a little pledge break going right now.
	...

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