I knew this day would come. It was a question of when, not if, Jackie Robinson and others would be erased from official U.S. government web sites. For now, the Jackie erasure was temporary and apparently a “mistake.” Other significant American military figures have been removed from official U.S. sites, however.

Per multiple reports today, such as this one from the AP, an article detailing Jackie’s military service went missing from a Defense Dept. website. It was just as mysteriously restored after public outcry. The restored page can be seen here.

Jackie Foundation Responds

“We were surprised to learn that a page on the Department of Defense’s website featuring Jackie Robinson among sports heroes who served in the military was taken down,” said David Robinson, son of Jackie Robinson and a board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. “We take great pride in Jackie Robinson’s service to our country as a soldier and a sports hero, an icon whose courage, talent, strength of character and dedication contributed greatly to leveling the playing field not only in professional sports but throughout society.”

The gaffe comes amid a DEI purge of over 20,000 images from military sites alone. In a different AP article, they state that “the vast majority of the Pentagon purge targets women and minorities, including notable milestones made in the military. And it also removes a large number of posts that mention various commemorative months — such as those for Black and Hispanic people and women.”

The purge order will affect colleges and universities and any group receiving Fed funding of any kind. Many colleges are currently being investigated any anything the administration might label as “noncompliance,” with threats of loss of funds.

Pentagon Statement

he Pentagon released an odd statement after the Jackie Robinson article was restored. They could have explained it as an oversight or error, but instead said this:

“We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms,” press secretary John Ullyot said. “In the rare cases that content is removed — either deliberately or by mistake — that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components and they correct the content so it recognizes our heroes for their dedicated service alongside their fellow Americans, period.”

I’m not sure what to make of the statement other than that it confirms a broad-based removal of “DEI content” (as defined by whom?) across government platforms.

What is DEI, Really?

There has always been a cultural boogeyman. Currently, it’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Last year, it was CRT (Critical Race Theory). In both cases, I’ll guess most who invoke them as criticism cannot explain the basics. DEI initiatives actually seek to promote fair and equitable treatment of all people. Institutionalizing DEI practices is but one way to combat generations of institutionalized racism, sexism, ableism, and more. It is mischaracterized, often intentionally, as “reverse discrimination,” and as primarily racially motivated. But DEI policies also benefit veterans, for example.

What’s Next?

(Above image is from this Gallery on Cardhound)

I’m no fan of slippery slope logic, but it’s fair to wonder what’s next. Will MLB face Fed criticism for honoring Jackie Robinson, as it does every April 15? After all, isn’t Jackie the ultimate “DEI hire?” (sarcasm dripping emoji).  Will the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum become a political target? Regardless of one’s political affiliation, I hope that all baseball fans–at the very minimum–are appalled at the idea of erasing such important history. It’s one thing to insist on merit-based hiring or college admissions. It’s another altogether to deny the groundbreaking accomplishments of people who were at one time denied such opportunities simply due to their race or gender.

UPDATES: The “what’s next” seems to be coming in short order. The MLB just announced that it is wiping diversity from its web sites and “reevaluating” its Diversity Pipeline program, the purpose of which is to “increase the pool of minority and female candidates for baseball operations departments across all 30 clubs and the league office.”