Repackaging Reality: NMAAHC and the Trump Administration's Crusade
Discontent and concerns over potential historical elimination expressed after artifacts were returned from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is undergoing some unexpected changes, due in part to the Trump Administration's edict to remove specific pieces of history from Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C.
This proposed purge surfaced after President Trump issued an executive order in March, compelling Vice President JD Vance to wipe out any "improper, divisive, or anti-American" ideology in all the Smithsonian Institution museums. Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution relies on federal funding and is governed by a Board of Regents, which now includes the vice president.
Trump's order accused the Smithsonian Institution of succumbing to a divisive, race-centric ideology that paints American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.
Shortly after the order was enacted, owners of certain historical artifacts on display at the NMAAHC claimed their items were being removed from their exhibitions. Visitors were taken aback to see these precious artifacts vanish, as they'd planned their visits strategically to catch a glimpse of them before any potential removal.
One such artifact belongs to Civil Rights activist Rev. Amos Brown, who lent it to the Smithsonian in 2016. The item? Abookpenned by Rev. George Washington Williams in 1880, often referred to as the "first history of the Negro race." The other artifact is a BibleRev. Brown carried to demonstrations with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson. However, when the Smithsonian requested its return, Rev. Brown complained that the usual options for loan renewal or permanent donation were not offered.
In a statement, the Smithsonian clarified that returns like the Bible and the book are standard museum practice, as the loan agreements tend to expire. A representative also assured that the Greensboro sit-in lunch counter remains on display at the National Museum of American History.
Despite the Smithsonian's denials, critics maintain that the administration's crusade risks whitewashing African American history. Elements like the African American experience, deemed as an integral part of American history, cannot be erased or brushed aside.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article erroneously claimed the Greensboro lunch counter was removed from display at the National Museum of American History. After this article was published, the Smithsonian responded to a request for comment, stating that the counter remains on display as part of a permanent collection.
- The Smithsonian Institution, which receives federal funding and is governed by a Board of Regents including the vice president, is facing challenges due to a proposed policy that aims to remove specific pieces of history from its museums, as dictated by an executive order issued by President Trump in March.
- Civil Rights activist Rev. Amos Brown, who lent a book penned by Rev. George Washington Williams in 1880 to the NMAAHC in 2016, has expressed concerns about the return of his artifact, as the Smithsonian requested its return, claiming the loan agreements often tend to expire.
- Critics argue that the Trump Administration's crusade to remove certain artifacts from the NMAAHC risks whitewashing African American history, as elements like the African American experience form an inherent part of American history.
- Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is a key player in policy-and-legislation, general news, and loan arrangements, with its agencies displaying a wealth of knowledge on various subjects including the NMAAHC's focus on African American history.
- The removal of certain artifacts from the NMAAHC has sparked renewed debates about politics, policy, and the display of controversial exhibitions, with some arguing that the shift could potentially alter the Museum's mission and overall impact on public perception.
