Every February since 1976, Black History Month has been a time to honor Black Americans’ contributions to the nation, history, and culture. Recent changes in federal policy on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and its implications on identity-based observances have brought renewed meaning to the month for New Trier High School’s students and the community. On Jan. 21, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” which effectively terminated DEI programs within the federal government. That order revoked Executive Order 11246 of Sept. 24, 1965, a long-standing directive that mandated affirmative action for federal contractors. As a result, all federal DEI workers were put on paid leave. These new DEI initiatives have caused significant changes in how federal agencies deal with identity-based events. On Jan. 31, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a statement titled, “Identity Months Dead at ...