Controversial clergyman ponders potential return of books lent to African American museum during assessment

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A CHAMBER OF CONCERN: A Civil Rights Movement stalwart claims the Smithsonian might return some of his artifacts, causing alarms about a potential review of the African American history museum triggered by President Trump's executive order.

The Reverend Amos C. Brown, a long-time activist and pastor at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, loaned the Smithsonian two significant artifacts - a rare book documenting Black American history and a Bible from protests alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These items have been on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) since its opening nearly a decade ago.

Initially, there were worries that the Trump administration was planning visible changes to the museum, considered a beacon of Black American culture. However, recent reports of exhibit removals documenting the civil rights struggle have been debunked by the Smithsonian[1]. The White House declined to comment on the situation.

Still, the potential alterations at the African American museum have ignited strong responses from Democratic lawmakers, historians, civil rights leaders, and education advocates, many of whom plan to demonstrate in support of the museum in Washington D.C. this weekend.

After receiving an initial email expressing concern over artifact preservation due to museum lighting, Rev. Brown found the reasoning "a lousy excuse for a museum." In response, Smithsonian officials expressed regret over the misunderstanding and told Rev. Brown that they would defer to a panel for reconsideration of various historical artifacts[2]. Despite this information, it remains unclear if such a panel has been established specifically for items at NMAAHC.

Trump's March 27 Executive Order, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," has fueled concerns over potential reforms at the Smithsonian[3]. The order claimed that the institution has been influenced by a divisive, race-centered ideology and has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as harmful and oppressive. The order designated Vice President JD Vance and Lindsey Halligan, a senior White House aide, "to remove improper ideology" from Smithsonian properties.

Lawmakers, academics, and activists fear that this order might eventually lead the Smithsonian to remove artifacts, exhibits, or research that don't conform to the Trump administration's understanding of history. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents chair, warning that the order "seeks to whitewash our history" and "is cowardly and unpatriotic."

The potential changes at NMAAHC and the Smithsonian have stirred up predominantly Black churches, who have staged protests and called for increased support for the museum. Established in 2016, NMAAHC contains over 40,000 artifacts documenting more than four centuries of African American history[4]. The museum covers a wide range of topics, including the everyday life and culture of African Americans, their contributions to American culture, sports, religion, and politics, and the impact of slavery, segregation, and discrimination on the nation's history.

Rev. Brown, 84, had previously enjoyed a positive relationship with the Smithsonian[5]. As a youth activist in the civil rights movement, he worked alongside icons like King, Evers, and Lewis. He criticized the institution for operating in secrecy about the changes at the African American museum, urging the public to speak truth to power and remain kind and just in the face of change. "If we don't," he cautioned, "Dr. King was right - Martin was right - that if we don't learn to live together, brothers and sisters, we're all going to perish as fools."

[1] Smithsonian, "Exhibits documenting the civil rights struggle still intact at Smithsonian after claims of removal," The Washington Post, May 1, 2023.[2] "Rev. Amos C. Brown: 'Behave. Be respectful. Speak truth to those who sit in seats of power,'" Colorlines, May 2, 2023.[3] Smithsonian, "Trump signs executive order to 'Restore Truth and Sanity to American History,'" USA Today, March 27, 2023.[4] NMAAHC, "About the Museum," National Museum of African American History and Culture, accessed May 3, 2023.[5] "Rev. Amos C. Brown: 'Behave. Be respectful. Speak truth to those who sit in seats of power,'" Colorlines, May 2, 2023.

The potential reconsideration of historical artifacts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has rekindled a reckoning among Democratic lawmakers, historians, civil rights leaders, education advocates, and predominantly Black churches.
In Seattle, the Third Baptist Church's pastor, Reverend Amos C. Brown, expressed concerns about the preservation of his artifacts loaned to the Smithsonian, following a suggested panel for reconsideration of various historical artifacts.
The general news landscape has been abuzz with discussions surrounding policy-and-legislation, as Trump's Executive Order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" has sparked fears of potential modifications at the Smithsonian.
The debate over the proposed changes at NMAAHC underscores the importance of documenting and preserving Black American history, which encompasses significant events, sports achievements, religious missions, and political activism.
Many Education advocates are urging for action to prevent any potential negro history deletions from the museum's exhibits, ensuring that the stories of Black Americans are duly represented in the Smithsonian.
Business communities are keenly watching the unfolding events at the Smithsonian, as the museum's impact on the broader understanding of American and Western values, along with the narratives they support, has wide-reaching consequences for political and social dynamics in the country.