Willie Wilson: President Donald Trump is eroding decades of civil rights progress

On the day the nation paused to celebrate the late civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., President Donald Trump signed an executive order that ends all equity plans across the federal government and its employees.

The order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” falsely criticizes diversity, equity and inclusion plans as “immense public waste and shameful discrimination.” I can imagine King looking down from heaven and singing Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On.” Trump’s actions are creating conditions for violence, racial unrest and instability.



Several of the executive orders erode decades of progress achieved through the civil rights movement. Trump also signed an executive order that invalidates President Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 order that required federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to promote equal opportunity for women and minorities. Johnson’s executive order prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion and national origin, and it was amended to add sex.

Trump’s order “ Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity ” directs the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs within the Department of Labor to “immediately cease promoting diversity, holding federal contractors and subcontractors responsible for taking ‘affirmative action.’” The order encourages the private sector to “end illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.” Without Johnson’s order in place, CNN reports that “it will be harder for people to confirm that they’re being discriminated against, and far fewer checks on employers who do practice discrimination, either consciously or unconsciously.

” Trump’s order could cause a chilling effect on employers hiring, promoting or contracting with diverse individuals and businesses. This could lead to increased unemployment, poverty and greater instability in communities of color. Crain’s Chicago Business reported that “the Illinois Department of Transportation recently republished a solicitation for roadwork without a diversity goal as a result of a directive from the U.

S. Department of Transportation.” Will diversity goals go away? Will research grants examining racial disparities end? Major companies are ending their diversity programs.

The U.S. has a painful history of race and gender discrimination.

The late Benjamin E. Mays, a leader in the civil rights movement, said: “He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.” That is the dilemma facing Black people in America who arrived on slave ships and Native Americans whose land was taken by force.

While we have made progress toward a colorblind society, Black people remain trapped in a spiral of poverty, inferior schools and hopelessness. Racial disparities in wealth, health, housing, employment, education, environment and the criminal justice system continue to hold Black Americans, Native Americans and others down. Last week, the nonprofit watchdog group the Housing Rights Initiative filed 176 complaints against Chicago landlords for discrimination in the largest housing case in Illinois history.

Every time Black people have made progress, systemic barriers have been put in place to slow their pace. In 1934, the Federal Housing Administration adopted rules that perpetuated racial discrimination in lending and housing segregation . The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was needed to prevent discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin or sex.

Redlining was outlawed in 1968, but the effects are still being felt today. In 1921, the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, dubbed “Black Wall Street,” was a shining example of Black people’s success. They were landowners and operated stores, hotels, churches, law offices, medical and dental offices, schools, barbershops, funeral homes and newspapers.

White supremacists burned down 35 city blocks in Greenwood over 24 hours. They left Black people homeless and hundreds injured or dead. Trump and those aligned with his vision of taking America back cannot understand another person’s journey unless they walk a mile in that person’s shoes.

The attempt to erase rules on race and gender equality from the federal government does nothing but give a nod to white supremacists and the architects of Project 2025. Trump’s pardons of those who stormed the U.S.

Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, emboldens those associated with the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Symbols really do matter.

Trump has placed a picture of President Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office. Jackson was an owner of enslaved people who became wealthy because of the institution of slavery. His Indian Removal Act forced more than 50,000 Native Americans off their ancestral homes, opening up the land for white settlement.

The Black neighborhood in the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is shown in ruins after the race riot in 1921. (Library of Congress) Perhaps Trump’s actions will awaken communities of color to organize and use their collective economic and political power to effect positive change. We must fight hate with love.

The following are recommendations to keep America moving toward a more perfect union: Civil rights organizations must challenge the legality of Trump’s executive orders. Any diminishment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 must be met with a legal challenge. Gov.

JB Pritzker and Illinois leaders must not retreat from their commitment to diversity in hiring and contracting. Faith leaders should organize roundtable discussions around holding accountable those companies that end diversity programs. In Psalm 37:25, King David said: “I was young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.

” God is in control, and together, we shall overcome. I write this commentary to make those comfortable with rolling back civil rights progress and workplace protections uncomfortable. Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.

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