Naval Academy Book Purge: DEI Withdrawals
- Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from it's libary, including Ibram X.
- The removal of the books, which occurred on March 31, follows guidance from the Secretary of Defense after executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump.
- Kendi, formerly the founding director of the Antiracist Research Center at boston University, gained national attention in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
Table of Contents
- Naval Academy Removes Hundreds of Books in DEI Purge
- Naval Academy Book Purge: Your Questions Answered
- Why were books removed from the Naval Academy library?
- What specific books were removed?
- When did the book removal take place?
- What was the role of executive orders in this decision?
- Who issued the directive to remove the books?
- What dose the Navy say about the book removal?
- How many books does the Nimitz library hold?
- What is the mission of the U.S. Naval Academy?
- Key Facts Summarized:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from it’s libary, including Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be an Antiracist,” as part of an effort to eliminate content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Books Removed Following Guidance
The removal of the books, which occurred on March 31, follows guidance from the Secretary of Defense after executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump. The academy also discarded Kendi’s “Stamped from the beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” as well as “Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America” by Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia deputy.
Kendi’s Work Gains Prominence
Kendi, formerly the founding director of the Antiracist Research Center at boston University, gained national attention in 2020 following the death of George Floyd. He recently announced a move to Howard University to continue his research. Boston University is expected to close its research center in June.
Other Titles affected
Other books removed from the Naval Academy’s library include Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” an autobiography detailing Angelou’s childhood during the Jim Crow era. Additional titles purged include “Women with Mustaches and Men Without Beards: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Modernity” by Afsanah Najmabadi; “Critical Race Theory and education: A Marxist Response” by Mike Cole; “Men in Wonderland: The Lost Girlhood of the Victorian Gentleman” by catherine Robson; and “Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersexuality” by Elizabeth Reis.
Executive Orders and Military Academies
While Trump’s January executive orders prohibited DEI content in K-12 schools receiving federal funds, military service academies were initially exempt. However, the Secretary of Defense’s office directed the Naval Academy to remove the material before a visit to the institution on April 1, according to the Associated Press. The exact source of the directive remains unclear.
The Navy confirmed that nearly 400 books were removed as part of the effort. “We can confirm that the U.S. Naval Academy has retired almost 400 books from its Nimitz Library collection to ensure compliance with the directives outlined in the executive orders issued by the president,” a Navy spokesman said in a statement. The Nimitz Library houses approximately 590,000 printed books, 322 databases, and over 5,000 magazines and printed publications.
The U.S. Naval academy prepares midshipmen for careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
The U.S. Naval Academy recently removed nearly 400 books from its library, sparking discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Here’s a breakdown of what happened, why, and what it means.
the Naval Academy removed books as part of an effort to eliminate content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).This action followed guidance from the Secretary of Defense and executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump.
What specific books were removed?
Several books were removed, including:
- “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi
- “Stamped from the Beginning: the definitive History of Racist Ideas in America” by Ibram X. Kendi
- “Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America” by Stacey Abrams
- “I Know Why the caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
- Additionally, various other titles were also affected, including books on gender, sexuality, and critical race theory.
When did the book removal take place?
the book removal occurred on March 31st. The Secretary of Defense’s office directed the removal before a visit to the institution on April 1st, according to the Associated Press.
What was the role of executive orders in this decision?
Former President Trump’s executive orders prohibited DEI content in K-12 schools receiving federal funds. While military service academies were initially exempt, the Naval Academy was later directed to remove the material to comply with the directives.
Who issued the directive to remove the books?
The exact source of the directive remains unclear, but it came from the Secretary of Defense’s office.
A Navy spokesman confirmed that nearly 400 books were removed. The statement indicated that the removal was to ensure compliance with the executive orders.
How many books does the Nimitz library hold?
The Nimitz Library houses approximately 590,000 printed books, 322 databases, and over 5,000 magazines and printed publications.
The U.S. Naval Academy prepares midshipmen for careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
Key Facts Summarized:
here’s a fast overview of the key facts in a digestible format:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Books Removed | Nearly 400 |
| Reason for Removal | Compliance with directives related to DEI content. |
| Initiating Authority | Secretary of defense with guidance from former President Donald Trump’s executive orders. |
| Key Books Affected | “How to Be an Antiracist,” “Stamped from the Beginning,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” |
| Library Size | Approximately 590,000 printed books. |