Forbidden Words: Exhibition in Konstanz highlights Trump's legacy

Forbidden Words: Exhibition in Konstanz highlights Trump's legacy

On June 24, 2025, a major exhibition will open at the University of Konstanz that addresses the deletion of terms related to “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” (DEI) in the USA. This exhibition, entitled “Forbidden words – forbidden thinking?!”, addresses the political and social implications of this decision. It features not only the banned words that came into focus during the Trump administration, but also books that were banned from schools and public libraries in various US states, including works on racial equality.

At the beginning of his term in office, US President Donald Trump issued a regulation banning such terms in federal authorities. According to the University of Konstanz, which is organizing the exhibition in cooperation with the Department for Equality, Family Promotion and Diversity, the International Office and the Communication, Information, Media Center (KIM), the exhibition will be accessible during library opening hours until June 30, 2025. Admission is free, as is participation in the finissage, which will take place on the last day of the exhibition from 3 p.m. in the training corner of the library.

Political context and racial tensions

The exhibit also reflects on how the Trump administration sought to roll back progress in racial equality. Two-thirds of Americans said after Trump's presidency that they believed his policies had increased racial tensions in the country. Controversial measures included banning training on systemic racism and unconscious bias in federal agencies. Trump also refused to clearly condemn white supremacist groups, which further exacerbated social divisions.

The opening event of the exhibition will be supplemented by a short lecture by the Konstanz English major Irmtraud Huber, who will shed light on the topic “Kinds of Erasure: The Politics of (Un)saying”. At the same time, there will be an open discussion with Andreas Wimmer, a sociologist from Columbia University, about the Trump regime's goals with regard to the list of banned words. This discussion is seen as an opportunity to question the social implications of such bans.

Future outlook

Looking ahead, the 2024 Trump campaign continues to plan to eliminate existing DEI programs and censor academic discussions of race and gender. In the event of another Trump presidency, attacks on equality initiatives are expected to increase and legal options to combat discrimination will be further limited. The ACLU has already announced that it will take legal action against these attacks on civil rights and work to defend DEI programs.

This exhibition in Konstanz opens up a space to reflect on the far-reaching consequences of language bans and their influence on society. The exhibition is therefore not only a reflection on past and present political developments, but also a call for public discussion on issues of equality and inclusion in today's world.