Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza

Repeal the Trump Equity Gag Order.

On September 22, the Trump administration signed an executive order prohibiting “divisive concepts" in diversity training programs such as systemic race and sex discrimination and implicit race and sex biases (White House). The order, often referred to as Executive Order 13950, seeks to discredit systemic racism and the impact of the enslavement and genocide of Black and Indigenous people. It discredits critical race theory. And it emphasizes that implicit bias has no place in policies, and federal policy shouldn’t be spent to combat it. All of this attempts to invalidate the work of organizations that have committed themselves – through research, advocacy, public policy, creating safe spaces, etc. – to name and dismantle white supremacy. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit against this executive order (NAACP).

Happy Friday and welcome back. The Trump administration's executive order on racial diversity training was signed two months ago and has already made a devastating impact on institutions and organizations, including ours. Today is a straightforward call-to-action to preserve the education and advocacy of the topics you've been reading here each day.

Yesterday marked our six-month anniversary of the Anti-Racism Daily! I started this newsletter on June 3 to offer consistent ways to take action to dismantle white supremacy. I never thought we'd be fighting against an executive order six months later. But I'm grateful we get to do it, together.

This newsletter is made possible by our generous group of contributors. Support our work by making a one-time gift on our website or PayPal, or giving monthly on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com. You can share this newsletter and unlock some fun rewards by signing up here.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

  • Sign the petition demanding the immediate repeal of the Trump Administration’s Equity Gag Order.

  • Use the hashtag #TruthBeTold to demand the repeal of the Equity Gag Order.

  • Fill out this form to provide any information on how the Equity Gag Order impacts your lives and communities.


These action items are provided by the African American Policy Forum, an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. Learn more about their work and support if you can.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

On September 22, the Trump administration signed an executive order prohibiting “divisive concepts" in diversity training programs such as systemic race and sex discrimination and implicit race and sex biases (White House). The order, often referred to as Executive Order 13950, seeks to discredit systemic racism and the impact of the enslavement and genocide of Black and Indigenous people. It discredits critical race theory. And it emphasizes that implicit bias has no place in policies, and federal policy shouldn’t be spent to combat it. All of this attempts to invalidate the work of organizations that have committed themselves – through research, advocacy, public policy, creating safe spaces, etc. – to name and dismantle white supremacy. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit against this executive order (NAACP).

We briefly referenced Trump’s sentiment on this issue in a newsletter outlining the history of critical race theory, before the executive order was announced. But now, two months later, we must talk about the impact that this executive order has had for institutions across the U.S. – far beyond the federal government. Many people assumed that this order was more performative than anything. But it’s easy to discredit its impact if you’re unfamiliar with the reach of federal funding. 


First off, it had an immediate and significant impact on federal contractors themselves. The National Fair Housing Association, which rallies to end housing discrimination, provides training for federal agencies and industry leaders to ensure fair and equitable practices. As we’ve discussed in previous newsletters, systemic racism plays a significant part in housing equity – and all of this is exacerbated with COVID-19. Lisa Rice, the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, emphasizes that undoing systemic racism is critical for mitigating these issues. But because of this gag order, her organization is now restricted from effectively explaining why this gap exists.

“

If we cannot tell the truth, we cannot effectively advocate for the policies that we need.

Lisa Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fair Housing Association

But it goes beyond contractors. Organizations that rely on funding from the federal government worked quickly to act accordingly. This includes the education space, which is particularly horrifying. We’ve written about how critical it is to promote anti-racism education, from diversifying curriculum to actively acknowledging racism with the Gen Z community. Stanford University was thrust into the spotlight when they publicly released a checklist for approving diversity content. The corresponding memo states that the university prohibits diversity training that discusses whether the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist or whether meritocracy is racist, sexist, or made by one race to oppress another, alongside other referenced statements in the executive order (Venture Beat). After public backlash, the university expressed that the memo was shared pre-emptively and did not reflect their values.

It’s also affected organizations doing the work completely separate from federal agencies. The AAPI shared examples in their talk, and participants joined in through the live chat, and the impact was broad. An elementary teacher had her children’s books reviewed for restricted content. A diversity and inclusion trainer was asked to remove anti-racism from their invoice. A student was requested to remove lines about white supremacy from their dissertation! And our newsletter has been banned in schools and organizations alike – one organization asked if we could change our name to comply with their corporate standards.

So when we can’t talk about the historical context of these inequities, where does it leave us? Rice emphasizes that it places the blame on the victim; the individual suffering from these systemic inequities is responsible – not the system or the structures that oppress them. This idea is something that the administration has pushed consistently. Just weeks after this was launched, Donald Trump Jr. put it bluntly, stating that Black people have to “want to be successful” for his father’s policies to work (AP News).

“

Anti-racist speech is the most American speech. But we have to counter that against a President that believes ‘Make America Great Again,’ which means ‘make America white again.’

Charles R. Lawrence, III, professor and anti-racism scholar

This type of erasure attempts to diminish accountability for the federal government. But it also aims to deteriorate the foundation and strength of Black people. Our history, our culture, and legacy are not defined by the systemic inequities that we’ve faced – but certainly influenced by it. Furthermore, our labor and exploitation were critical to this nation’s growth and development; we wouldn’t be here without it. We can’t move forward if we don’t acknowledge where we’re coming from.

Based on the Biden adminstration’s focus on racial equity, it’s expected that this executive order will be reversed shortly after inauguration (USA Today). Ideally, they implement an executive order that counters this one, reinforcing the importance of this education for federal agencies, schools, and other institutions. And, most importantly, we must commit to keep doing this work ourselves. Continue to educate yourself, have tough conversations, and rally for change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • On September 22, the Trump administration signed an executive order prohibiting “divisive concepts" in diversity training programs such as systemic race and sex discrimination and implicit race and sex biases (White House)

  • This executive order affects the scope of what federal agencies can learn about racial inequity and how it influences their work

  • It's also created complications for how racial history and theory can be taught in schools and corporate settings

  • This gag order restricts us from acknowledging the impact of racism in America and discredits the resilience and strength of the communities impacted

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.

Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza

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Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza Nicole Cardoza

Learn about slavery and the White House.

There are endless reports on the senior staffers who have contracted COVID-19 from the September 26 Rose Garden event. But there’s a lot less about the staff – particularly the residence staff – that have potentially been exposed to the virus. These essential workers, nearly all identifying as people of color, deserve to be represented in this narrative and protected at all costs. Unfortunately, stories of communities of color in the White House are often overlooked and forgotten – a practice consistent with its dark history.

Happy Friday. I firmly believe that in order to get to where we're going, we have to look back and learn from our past. Today's newsletter aims to offer a historical lens to the current conversations about the White House. It directly correlates the relationship between enslaved and essential workers, and demonstrates how far our nation has to grow to redefine the world we want to live in. 

Tomorrow is our weekly Study Hall where we unpack key questions and inquiries from the community. If you haven't already (I'm a bit behind on the inbox), reply to this email with your thoughts.
 
Thank you for supporting our work. If you can, make a contribution to our website, PayPal, Venmo (@nicoleacardoza), or subscribe monthly on Patreon. I appreciate you!

Nicole 

TAKE ACTION

  • Read the names and stories of the known enslaved people associated with the White House, provided by the White House Historical Association >

  • Vote for a candidate that’s more likely to protect essential workers – starting with those in the White House.

  • Research: Find three historical buildings of note in your community and/or that have personal significance, and research how they were constructed.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

There are endless reports on the senior staffers who have contracted COVID-19 from the September 26 Rose Garden event. But there’s a lot less about the staff – particularly the residence staff – that have potentially been exposed to the virus. We do know that two housekeepers have tested positive for COVID-19 and were told to discuss their diagnosis with “discretion” (Forbes). But what else don’t we know? These essential workers, nearly all identifying as people of color, deserve to be represented in this narrative and protected at all costs. Unfortunately, stories of communities of color in the White House are often overlooked and forgotten – a practice consistent with its dark history.

The White House starts with Black people – in fact, they built it. Known as the President’s House during this time, the founders were keen on a building to house the country’s leader within the newly established federal city, Washington, D.C. President George Washington initially planned to import workers from Europe to complete the ambitious project but had trouble recruiting staff. Instead, they decided to “contract” enslaved laborers from neighboring communities. The government paid the owners – not the enslaved people themselves – for their labor (White House Historical Association).

This was common. Often, owners would rent out the people they enslaved for extra money. The enslaved person would provide the labor, while the contract holder would pay a wage directly to the owner. The White House Historical Association (WHHA) was able to piece together some of the names of enslaved people who contributed to the project based on whether the owners included it on the payroll information (WHHA).

Note: This information is provided by the White House Historical Association, a private nonprofit which acts independently from the government. Although information on the construction is available on the official whitehouse.gov, there’s no mention of the enslaved people that brought it to life. 

Enslaved people did the bulk of the construction work, from creating the raw materials needed for the project, to leveling the ground and building it. Many other government buildings in DC, including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, were also made by enslaved people (Curbed). The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a block of Aquia Creek sandstone removed from the East Front of U.S. Capitol in their collection:


sandstone.png

“Enslaved African Americans, leased out by their slave owners, mined sandstone from local quarries and built the United States Capitol, the White House, and the Smithsonian Castle. Congress, the institution that guarded the peoples’ freedom, held sessions in a building constructed by forced labor, and the legislators would have witnessed lines of shackled slaves marching by daily en route to the Deep South” (NMAAHC).
 

And enslaved people were also exploited inside the White House once complete. Back then, each President was required to pay for all White House expenses, including staff, out of pocket. It was “too costly” to hire fair waged laborers, so enslaved people were instead forced into a wide range of roles like chefs, gardeners, stable hands, maids, butlers, lady’s maids, and valet (WHHA).


At least nine presidents either brought enslaved people with them to the White House or used the same “contract” agreement mentioned earlier for staffing. Some even purchased enslaved people directly; President Andrew Jackson bought a young eight-year-old enslaved girl named Emeline to work at the White House (Washington Post). And speaking of children, the first child born at the White House was born to Ursula Granger Hughes, a fourteen-year-old enslaved cook, enslaved by Thomas Jefferson. The child died a few months later (WHHA).


“The Female I have none, but those I brought with me, except a Negro woman who is wholy with the Cook in the kitchin, and I am happy in not having any occasion for any others for a very sad set of creatures they are.”

First Lady Abigail Adams, 1793


"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves."

First Lady Michelle Obama, 2016

Nowadays, much of the staff is “composed of African American, Latino or Filipino employees” (Washington Post). In contrast to other staffing roles at the White House, which had a 36% turnover rate before the Trump administration (Forbes), residence staffers often stay in these roles for life. Some positions at the White House have been held exclusively by Black people, like the butler corps. Wilson Jerman, a longtime White House butler, started his career with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957 and retired in 2012 after serving Barack Obama. He passed away from COVID-19 in May (NYTimes). And many of these workers are also older, which makes them especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (Washington Post). According to a former staffer, residence staff decided on their own to start wearing masks and following CDC guidelines, even though the White House itself had no protocol (Washington Post).

Like all the others keeping our country operating right now, these essential workers deserve safety and security. The Trump administration chooses to support the White House’s essential workers with the same disregard as they face across the U.S. It’s a disappointing depiction of who is seen and centered in times of crisis – and adds to a long history of exploitation and abuse of communities of color within the White House.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The White House was built, and tended to, by enslaved people in its early history

  • The majority of residence staffers now are people of color, and most are older – which exacerbates health concerns

  • The lack of protection for essential workers inside the White House mirrors the same disregard we've seen during Trump's entire campaign

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.

Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza

Read More