A recent modification to a National Parks webpage focusing on the “Underground Railroad” has removed a quote and image of Harriet Tubman, the renowned conductor of the underground network. This adjustment is part of several revisions made to government websites during the Trump administration.
The alterations to the webpage, as highlighted by a comparison between two dates on the Wayback Machine, indicate the removal of Tubman’s quote and image, as well as mentions of “enslaved” individuals and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The webpage now features commemorative stamps of civil rights leaders and emphasizes “Black/White Cooperation” instead of discussing enslaved peoples’ efforts and the Underground Railroad’s organization.
While a separate National Parks webpage dedicated to Tubman remains unchanged, the modifications have raised concerns about the administration’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Other controversial changes to government websites, such as the removal of specific terms like “transgender” and “queer” from a webpage about Stonewall Monument, have sparked protests and backlash.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to assert control over cultural and historical institutions, including targeting the Smithsonian Institution, have also come under scrutiny. The ongoing changes to government websites reflect a broader campaign to reshape narratives and historical representations in American institutions.
