Donald Trump Did Not Rename Black History Month [Debunked]

It’s been widely reported by many news outlets that Donald Trump has taken it upon himself to rename Black History Month to African American History Month. However, a search of the government archives that preserves all presidential proclamations shows that just isn’t true.

The practice of issuing a presidential proclamation every year in honor of Black History Month stretches back to 1996 when President Clinton issued the first modern proclamation on January 30. It was Proclamation 6863 – National African American History Month, 1996. The applicable text is in the fourth paragraph that reads the following.

“Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 1996, as National African American History Month [emphasis added]. I call upon Government officials, educators in schools, colleges, universities, and libraries, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that raise awareness of African American history and invite further inquiry into this area of study.”

A search of The American Presidency Project through the intervening years shows that every sitting president since has issued a proclamation with the same title.

• 1997: Proclamation 6970 – National African American History Month, 1997
• 1998: Proclamation 7067 – National African American History Month, 1998
• 1999: Proclamation 7165 – National African American History Month, 1999
• 2000: Proclamation 7270 – National African American History Month, 2000
• 2001: Proclamation 7404 – National African American History Month, 2001
• 2002: Proclamation 7522 – National African American History Month, 2002
• 2003: Proclamation 7645 – National African American History Month, 2003
• 2004: Proclamation 7756 – National African American History Month, 2004
• 2005: Proclamation 7868 – National African American History Month, 2005
• 2006: Proclamation 7976 – National African American History Month, 2006
• 2007: Proclamation 8103 – National African American History Month, 2007
• 2008: Proclamation 8218 – National African American History Month, 2008
• 2009: Proclamation 8345 – National African American History Month, 2009
• 2010: Proclamation 8476 – National African American History Month, 2010
• 2011: Proclamation 8627 – National African American History Month, 2011
• 2012: Proclamation 8776 – National African American History Month, 2012
• 2013: Proclamation 8930 – National African American History Month, 2013
• 2014: Proclamation 9080 – National African American History Month, 2014
• 2015: Proclamation 9230 – National African American History Month, 2015
• 2016: Proclamation 9392 – National African American History Month, 2016

So, as you can see, the wording of President Trump’s Proclamation 9572 – National African American History Month, 2017, falls directly in line with 20 years of established precedent.

When it comes to referring to February as “Black History Month,” the term has become an internationally recognized name that is shorter and easier to say. As for its political correctness, there are debates about how it should be referred to. However, the Trump administration has also referred to the month as Black History Month, most recently during the African American History Month Listening Session when he said the following in his opening remarks.

“Hello, everybody. These are a lot of my friends, but you have been so helpful. And we did well. The election, it came out really well. Next time we’ll triple it up or quadruple it, right? We want to get over 51, right? At least 51. Well, this is Black History Month [emphasis added], so this is our little breakfast, our little get-together. Hi, Lynne, how are you?”

He even used the term in a tweet from the official presidential Twitter account.

Proud to honor the start of Black History Month at the @WhiteHouse this morning with @VP Mike Pence. pic.twitter.com/CaXOykzR4d

— President Trump 45 Archived (@POTUS45) February 1, 2017

It seems that TMZ and other outlets have realized this as well as articles claiming the story is real have been removed and replaced with an updated one. Snopes has also weighed in on the subject and determined the substance to be “Mostly False.”

President Gerald Ford, when he established the celebration in 1976, referred to the month as Black History Month from its expansion from Black History Week.

[Featured Image by Carolyn Kaster/AP Images]