This petition is deeply personal for me. I have family members who are directly and indirectly affected by the erasure of non-white and non-male achievements and contributions from our historical documentation merely because they are ethnic and non-male. All those who have contributed to the story of America should be acknowledged regardless of their ethnicity or gender.

We are living in the 21st century, a time when we should celebrate diversity and inclusion. Yet, far too many historical figures - those who are neither white nor male - are currently being systematically eliminated from our historical narratives. This not only distorts our nation's history, but also sends a destructive message about who is worthy of recognition and respect. 

According to the National Women's History Museum, out of more than 750 national park service sites, less than 10% are dedicated to women, ethnic, or non-male historical figures. This is despite the crucial role played by such individuals in every facet of our nation's history.

In recent weeks, the "Defense Department issued a Feb. 26 memo instructing the military to remove all digital content that “focus on immutable characteristics, such as race, ethnicity or sex” by early March.

Arlington National Cemetery removed its education programs about the history of women and people of color in the armed services though some biographies remain available on its site. Additionally, the Army and the Navy removed web pages about the history of women in the military and ones about a decorated Japanese-American Army unit and pages about Navajo Code Talkers.

A page celebrating the military service of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who integrated major league baseball, has also been taken down. The Air Force took down, among other pages, a 2019 profile of the 10 women who piloted one specific stealth bomber that carried out important missions. The archived profile shows that at that point, the 10 women made up about 2% of all the pilots who flew the aircraft.

The Pentagon marked tens of thousands photographs for removal, the Associated Press reported. Some were of war heroes, many photos feature women and people of color." (Huo Jingnan (NPR) and Quil Lawrence, "Here are all the ways people are disappearing from government websites", opg.org, 3/19/25, Here are all the ways people are disappearing from government websites - OPB)

With this petition, we call on the government to reinstate all non-white and non-male historical figures' names and information to their rightful place in our historical significance and documentation. This is not only about making our history lessons more comprehensive; it is about acknowledging and valuing the contributions of all those who helped shape our country into what it is today, irrespective of their ethnicity or gender. 

Sign this petition to stand up for an inclusive historical record. Let our voices be heard and demand that these significant contributors to our nation's history are not left in the shadows any longer. Let us ensure accuracy, respect, and dignity for all in the historical narrative of our country.