The Department of Defense Tried to Erase Jackie Robinson. We Didn’t Let Them.

They tried to erase Jackie Robinson—and public pressure forced them to bring him back. The Department of Defense (DOD) quietly removed an article honoring Robinson’s military service as part of a larger purge targeting anything labeled “DEI.” The article, which had been on the DOD website for years, told the story of Robinson’s time in the Army, including how he was nearly court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a segregated military bus. By Wednesday morning, the page was gone. By Wednesday afternoon—after media outlets and the public started asking questions—it magically reappeared. The Pentagon called it “a mistake”. But was it?This isn’t just about Jackie Robinson. His temporary erasure is part of a deliberate effort to strip history of any context that acknowledges racism, discrimination, or the fight for civil rights. The same purge led to the takedown of pages honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, and other trailblazers. They are trying to rewrite our history. We must keep calling this out or more of it will disappear. Get full access to Yo, Miss! at saribethrosenberg.substack.com/subscribe