A page on the Pentagon website honoring Jackie Robinson’s military career has reappeared after vanishing amid efforts to scrub diversity and inclusion content under the Trump administration. The Defense Department had removed or paused several pages, sites, and resources celebrating African American achievements since President Trump took office.
Robinson’s biography, which describes his childhood in California, time in a segregated Army unit during World War II, and role in breaking baseball’s color barrier, was temporarily lost on Wednesday but reappeared in the afternoon with no notable changes. The disappearance sparked backlash from politicians, including Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Yvette Clarke.
Since Trump took office, numerous pages, sites, and resources focusing on African American achievements have vanished or been paused. Some have returned, while others remain absent. The Pentagon has stated that its efforts to comply with executive orders aimed at removing diversity-related content are “rapid.”
However, critics argue that such efforts undermine the legacy of figures like Robinson, who broke down barriers in baseball and paved the way for future generations. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, said it would be “atrocious” to suggest that Robinson’s rise was solely a result of diversity initiatives.
Robinson served in the Army during World War II and faced racism and abuse before breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947. His legacy has endured through his retirement number, 42, being retired across Major League Baseball, and the annual Jackie Robinson Day celebration on April 15.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/us/politics/jackie-robinson-defense-department.html