BLACK mobile logo

district of columbia

politics

White House Campaign to Whitewash America’s Past Targets Smithsonian

August 22, 2025

The Trump White House has launched an attack on the Smithsonian Institution, specifically criticizing the National Museum of African American History and Culture for its exhibits on slavery, systemic racism, and inequality in America. In an official article, the administration condemned the museum's educational content about white privilege, colonization, and the legacies of slavery as "anti-American propaganda. " This criticism has prompted strong responses from organizations like the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and the Organization of American Historians (OAH), who defend the Smithsonian's educational mission and historical accuracy.

Who is affected

  • The Smithsonian Institution and its museums, particularly the National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Black Americans whose history is being challenged
  • Museum visitors and the general public seeking historical education
  • Organizations like ASALH and OAH that defend historical accuracy
  • Educational institutions that teach comprehensive American history

What action is being taken

  • The White House is publicly criticizing and condemning Smithsonian exhibits about racism and inequality
  • The ASALH is standing in "fierce opposition" to the White House's directive
  • The OAH is asserting that the president lacks authority over the Smithsonian
  • The Smithsonian continues to maintain exhibits documenting the full American experience, including racism and oppression
  • Civil rights leaders and historians are speaking out against attempts to rewrite history

Why it matters

  • This represents an attempt to control the historical narrative about racism in America
  • It threatens the independence of the Smithsonian Institution as established by Congress
  • It could impact how American history, particularly regarding slavery and its legacy, is taught and understood
  • The attack is part of a broader campaign that critics see as undermining civil rights and silencing Black voices
  • It challenges the mission of cultural institutions to present comprehensive and accurate historical accounts

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer

White House Campaign to Whitewash America’s Past Targets Smithsonian