Honoring America’s Complex History: A Student’s Plea to Preserve Our True Stories

Dear President,

During snowy childhood afternoons, after building forts and sledding down hills, I often found myself watching documentaries about airplanes. My fascination centered on World War II, and one day I discovered a film about the Tuskegee Airmen — the pioneering Black pilots who shattered racial barriers with their iconic red-tail planes. From that moment, I was captivated.

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen introduced me to both the finest and the most troubling aspects of America — their bravery and achievements contrasted sharply with the racism they endured. Despite skepticism, these men excelled beyond many all-white units, successfully escorting bombers, winning aerial battles, and sustaining remarkably few casualties. Yet, after their heroic service, they returned to a segregated society that denied them the celebrations and honors afforded to their white peers.

However, current efforts aim to erase these vital stories. Initiatives opposing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have targeted not only policies promoting equal opportunities but also historical education and cultural recognition. For instance, references to the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, and Colin Powell were removed from official defense websites, albeit temporarily. Policies titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” and “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” have pressured schools to eliminate books by or about influential figures like Jackie Robinson and Maya Angelou. Even the National Park Service attempted to describe the Underground Railroad without acknowledging slavery. These actions are framed as patriotic, based on the belief that truthful history is somehow subversive or un-American.

The opposition claims DEI undermines meritocracy, suggesting only the most qualified should succeed. In reality, DEI removes barriers that have historically blocked talented individuals from rising — just as the Tuskegee Airmen demonstrated through their skill and courage, benefiting society as a whole. This work is so crucial that many universities and companies strive to advance it quietly, beyond political scrutiny. Breaking down these obstacles remains a cornerstone for making the nation stronger.

American history is a tapestry of triumph and hardship, a reflection of both our noblest and flawed qualities. It is an undeniable truth, not a biased narrative, that the Tuskegee Airmen and other pioneers faced tremendous challenges alongside their successes. Their stories, complex and inspiring, drew me into an inclusive and honest understanding of our past. Embracing this history and learning from it enables us to overcome the barriers that hold us back.

Mr. President, we should take pride in our achievements while acknowledging our mistakes. Learning from history allows us to improve and unite. When the military embraced inclusivity in 1941, it discovered some of the finest pilots ever to soar through the skies.