Unpacking Trump’s Critique of the ‘Black Smithsonian’: Are We Erasing Racism in American History?

ATLANTA (AP) — Recently, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order criticizing the Smithsonian Institution for how it portrays American history. He claimed that the nation’s Founding Fathers believed “all men are created equal,” but he ignored a crucial fact: the Constitution initially enshrined slavery and counted enslaved people as only three-fifths of a person for the Census.

Many civil rights advocates and historians reacted strongly to Trump’s order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” They argue it seeks to minimize the impact of race and racism on the nation’s past. Historian Clarissa Myrick-Harris from Morehouse College expressed concerns, suggesting there’s a push to deny the reality of slavery and its lasting effects.

The executive order specifically mentions the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which Trump claims is part of a broader effort to rewrite history. Instead of highlighting the nation’s legacy of liberty and rights, he argues that a divisive “race-centered ideology” presents the U.S. as fundamentally flawed.

This order empowers Vice President JD Vance to evaluate programs and presentations at the Smithsonian, banning those that he sees as divisive. Trump also instructed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to look into monuments that have been altered since January 2020, reflecting his long-standing criticism of the movement to take down Confederate statues that gained momentum after George Floyd’s death.

Critics see this executive order as part of a larger pattern of minimizing Black contributions to American history. Ibram X. Kendi, a well-known historian, called it an attack on Black Americans. He believes that the National Museum of African American History is crucial to understanding the nation’s narrative.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., accused Trump of trying to distort America’s history for racist reasons. She stated that facing our history — both the good and bad — is essential for understanding who we are as a nation.

Interestingly, Trump had previously praised the same museum during a visit in 2017, calling it a “national gem” that honors the contributions of African Americans. This shift in tone raises questions about the motivations behind his recent actions.

Trump’s political strategies also factor in. He gained support from younger Black and Hispanic men during his campaign and increasingly targeted “woke culture” and diversity initiatives. He claimed that these practices discriminate against white Americans, leading to investigations of colleges and the removal of materials that educate about racial history.

Experts warn that these moves may have a chilling effect on other institutions focused on educating about Black history. Kendi noted that many of these museums operate on limited funding and could struggle to survive if initiatives like Trump’s continue. He fears this could lead to a situation where only politically aligned narratives are shared as American history.

This ongoing dialogue reflects deep divides in how history is taught and remembered in America today, as society grapples with its past. For more insight into these issues, you can read more on Smithsonian and The American Historical Association.

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