By now, it should be clear that Trump and MAGA are not really concerned with the effects of their slash-and-burn policies or the price of eggs—they simply don’t care. What they seek instead is a fundamental transformation of the country, one no longer tethered to social justice, respect for diversity, and truth.
What stands in the way are the gains of the Civil Rights Movement, so their aim is to dismantle any of its progress. A central part of this effort is a direct assault on all ethnic studies.
Trump’s current obsession with K-12 education, diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives, Critical Race Theory, and English-only policies signals his intent to target all forms of ethnic studies.
Even before his fixation with the 1619 Project, the right-wing laid the groundwork for such attacks—most notably in 2010, when it went after a little-known program in Arizona called Mexican American Studies within the Tucson Unified School District. In doing so, the right wing laid the ideological line in the sand: Only the lives of European Americans mattered, truth be damned.
Implemented in 1998, Mexican American Studies was a program developed to help reverse disturbing academic trends among Chicano students in Tucson schools. Though developed with Chicano students in mind, Mexican American Studies classes were successful at positively affecting the academic achievement of all students, regardless of ethnic background, who took the courses.
By all measures, Mexican American Studies was successful. The students loved the courses, as did parents, teachers, administrators, education experts, and a handful of elected officials.