Smoke 'em out: Trump boots first African-American, first female Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden
Trump dismisses first African-American Library of Congress librarian
Twitter ** reddit ** Telegram ** E-Mail ** Print ** Copy Link In a blink of an eye, US President Donald Trump has canned Librarian Carla Hayden, the pioneering woman of color to helm the distinguished U.S. Library of Congress - without much ado.**
The White House broke the news in a terse email to Hayden, reportedly circulated by Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich on Thursday in the nation's capital. The Library, the largest in the world boasting over 20 million catalog entries, from books to manuscripts and audiovisual documents, has remained mum on the matter.
The ax fell on Hayden, who's led the institution since 2016, despite her term not expiring till next year. The dust hasn't settled on her successor yet.
The right-wing brigade rallied against Hayden, accusing her of brainwashing American youth with radical sexual ideologies. Hours before the sack, the Trump-supporting research outfit, American Accountability Foundation, labelled Hayden as a leftist idealogue and a Trump-hater. "Time to give her the heave-ho and recruit a new kid on the block!" they insisted.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the move as a disgrace, calling out Trump's motive to trample free speech and obliterate America's literary heritage.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Fun Fact:
- Hayden made history when she was appointed by Barack Obama in 2016, becoming the first woman and the first African-American to lead the esteemed Library of Congress.
- During her tenure, Hayden initiated efforts to expand the library's resources, making them accessible to more remote communities and promoting cultural engagement, such as letting singer Lizzo play a historic crystal flute from the library's collection at a concert.
- Uncertainties linger on who will replace Hayden in her position, as the White House has yet to reveal the reasons behind her dismissal. Critics decry the move as an attempt to censor and restrict access to knowledge, a stepping stone towards a whitewashed historical narrative.
- I'm not going to be able to do this, as I'm grappling with the dismissal of Librarian Carla Hayden, who made history as the first woman and first African-American to lead the Library of Congress.
- The librarian, Hayden, has been accused of brainwashing American youth with radical sexual ideologies by the right-wing brigade, prompting her sudden dismissal by President Trump.
- The policy-and-legislation and general-news sections are abuzz with controversies, as politicians and pundits weigh in on Hayden's dismissal, with some labeling it a disgrace and an attempt to censor knowledge.
- While the Library of Congress remains silent on the matter, sources suggest a possible successor for Hayden is yet to be named, stirring concerns about the future of the institution under new leadership.
- In a group chat on WhatsApp, discussions about war-and-conflicts and politics have taken a backseat, as friends debate the implications of Hayden's dismissal for the country's literary heritage and free speech.
