By Michael Smith
America, Rewritten: A Project 2025 Blueprint
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson made history with Executive Order 11246, ensuring federal contractors couldn’t discriminate based on race, sex, or religion. It was a declaration of intent: America could, and would, do better. Fast forward to 2025, and President Trump has effectively rewritten the script. Equity and inclusion are out; regression and exclusion are in.
With a signature flourish, Trump didn’t just rescind the order—he erased decades of progress. This repeal is more than a bureaucratic change. It’s a direct assault on Black and LGBTQ+ communities and a reminder that the fight for civil rights is as urgent now as it was in Johnson’s time.
Dismantling Equity: Trump’s First Target
The repeal of Executive Order 11246 is a gut punch to civil rights. Federal contractors are no longer required to promote diversity in hiring or create affirmative action programs. What was once a tool for leveling the playing field is now deemed “unnecessary” under Trump’s meritocracy myth—a myth built on ignoring the systemic barriers that made 11246 necessary in the first place.
For Black professionals, this rollback means fewer opportunities and more doors quietly closed. It’s a policy designed to maintain the status quo while pretending progress was never needed to begin with.
Erasure by Design: LGBTQ+ Communities in the Crosshairs
As if rescinding affirmative action wasn’t enough, Trump’s administration also took aim at LGBTQ+ rights by redefining “sex” in federal policy to exclude sexual orientation. No more protections in federal contracting. No more inclusion in anti-discrimination policies. For LGBTQ+ Americans, particularly those who are Black, this isn’t just exclusion—it’s erasure.
The impacts are immediate and chilling. Workers can now be denied opportunities simply for being who they are. Protections against harassment and discrimination that once felt hard-won are gone, leaving LGBTQ+ employees vulnerable in workplaces that no longer have to safeguard their rights.
A Targeted Attack on Black America
While the policy changes affect many communities, let’s be clear: Black America remains a primary target. The dismantling of affirmative action and DEI programs directly undermines decades of hard-fought gains. Trump’s administration is crafting a future where progress isn’t just halted—it’s reversed.
And let’s not forget the theatrics of it all. At Trump’s inauguration, a pastor took the stage to plagiarize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no less. The irony? While Rev. Sewell borrowed King’s words about equality, Trump’s policies were already moving to destroy the very legacy King fought for. This isn’t coincidence—it’s calculated hypocrisy.
A Familiar Pattern: Learning from the Past
Trump’s actions feel eerily familiar to those who know their history. After the Civil War, Reconstruction offered a brief moment of hope for Black Americans—until white supremacist backlash dismantled those gains. Laws like the Black Codes and voter suppression tactics made it clear: progress wasn’t safe, and rights could always be taken away.
Fast forward to 2025, and we’re watching a similar playbook unfold. The tools have changed, but the intent is the same: protect privilege, suppress progress, and silence resistance.
Reflection: Where Do We Go From Here?
It’s tempting to despair when faced with such blatant regression. But history also teaches us this: resistance works. Every time progress has been threatened, people have risen to meet the challenge. Now is no different.
We can’t sit on the sidelines while policies like these take hold. Here’s how we can push back:
Support Black and LGBTQ+ Communities:
Invest in organizations and businesses that uplift marginalized voices. Build local networks of solidarity and support.Educate Yourself and Others:
Understanding the history of civil rights—and the tactics used to undermine them—is essential. Share that knowledge and empower others to act.Demand Accountability:
Contact your representatives, show up at town halls, and hold leaders accountable. Local action builds national momentum.Stay Engaged:
Join grassroots movements, support mutual aid networks, and stay vocal. Silence only benefits those who want to maintain inequality.
The Fight Is Far From Over
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 was a promise to marginalized communities—a promise that progress was possible. Trump’s repeal is an attempt to break that promise, to undo what has been achieved and ensure that the ladder of opportunity is pulled up behind him.
But here’s the thing about promises: they don’t die. They live in the people who believe in them, fight for them, and refuse to let them fade away. So, let’s honor that promise by doing what our ancestors have always done—resist, organize, and push forward.
The dream isn’t dead. It’s waiting for us to wake up.
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