This February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The celebration started as a week and eventually expanded
into a month in 1976. This momentous month reflects upon and recognizes the long history of struggle, culture, and vibrancy of the African American community.
Also, this year, on Jan. 19, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King was a social activist who fought and gave his life for the rights of African Americans. Every year, we celebrate the actions he took to end segregation and fight for equality in the United States.
However important as these two events are, to both remember our country’s history and pay homage to those who fought so hard for equality, they seem to be getting less and less recognition, especially during our current president’s administration.
In 2026, MLK Day was taken off the list of national parks that were traditionally free every year, due to changes in federal guidelines.
The date used to be on the list that National Parks allowed free entry. While MLK Day was removed, free entry still remains for dates like Presidents’ Day, Flag Day, and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
In addition, presidents normally attend events to commemorate the holiday, while President Trump decided to spend the day in Florida attending a college football championship.
His proclamation was certainly lackluster.
Not only did the proclamation arrive shockingly late in the day, but the Trump administration still had time to post updates about immigration enforcement in the country.
As well as the lack of recognition for MLK Day, Black History has also been underrepresented this year.
Along with removing slavery related exhibits at historical sites and a proclamation that failed to mention the numerous fights against racism and inequality, the Trump administration has scaled back or removed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in federal agencies.
This seems to reflect how unimportant the Trump administration considers African American representation in the past and present.
By trying to downplay the truth of our nation’s history, the Trump administration fails to honor the importance of African American contributions to helping create a stronger United States.
Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day are not just dates on a calendar, they are symbols of the struggles and achievements of the African American community and exemplify what we all can achieve when we work together for the common goal of peace and equality.
