Smithsonian Institution to close diversity office after Trump exec. order /* targets the NMAAHC

[get these nets]

https://blackpressusa.com/category/april-ryan/
04/07/25

Trump Targets a Slavery Removal from the National Museum of African-American History and Culture​

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The museum’s slavery facts and substantiating artifacts of the 250 years of the enslavement of Africans in America, curated by historians, are the bull’s-eye for the Trump administration.

By April Ryan
“Black people are not going to stand for this,” says Nikole Hannah Jones, the author of the 1619 Project. She is responding to reports that President Trump is targeting the slavery section of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. The museum’s slavery facts and substantiating artifacts of the 250 years of the enslavement of Africans in America, curated by historians, are the bull’s-eye for the Trump administration.

“I think that this is a sign of a deep sickness to think that you could go to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture and feel the need to erase how Black people got here,” emphasized Jones, who added, “To erase or minimize the slavery and freedom part of that story is to create a fantasy of how we got here. We literally would not be in the United States without slavery.”

According to sources, Smithsonian officials are secretly strategizing to stave off presidential actions for Republican support to preserve the history. Smithsonian officials hope once they have secured Republican support, they can present the attempt to save the artifacts and museum integrity to President Trump. In its lower portion, the museum takes tourists on a historic timeline journey from American slavery to Jim Crow, the Civil Rights movement with the casket of Emmett Till, and simulations of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, among other noted moments in American history. “We cannot be a free democratic society when you have the most powerful people in the world who will take control of a history museum and force them to tell a lie,” said a distraught Jones, who has been tracking the museum’s movements more closely since its director Kevin Young left his post last week after four years on the job. Over a million people visited the museum in 2022, making it the second-most toured Smithsonian Museum.
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[Dad]

ive had so many great moments at the Blacksonian

Saw the premiere of Black Panther, heard Amy Shepard speak, made it for unveiling of the building

fukk TRUMP & HIS FRIENDS

 

[Crude]

About 70 years of progress being set back in a couple of presidential cycles.

 

[get these nets]

04/21/25

House Democrats Urge Vice President J.D. Vance to Stop Smithsonian Overhaul Following Trump Executive Order​

On Thursday, four members of the United States’ House of Representatives sent a letter to Vice President J.D. Vance urging him to reject an overhaul of the Smithsonian Institution.
The letter was sent in response to President Donald Trump‘s “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” order, issued on March 27, to eliminate “divisive” and “anti-American” content from the Smithsonian’s exhibitions and to restore “monuments, memorials, statues, markers” that have been removed from public spaces since 2020.

 

[get these nets]

05/03/25

 

[get these nets]

05/02/25

Exclusive: Democrats call for probe into Trump's executive order on museums​

May 2 (Reuters) - House Democrats are calling on the Smithsonian inspector general to launch an investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump’s March executive order targeting federally funded museums, arguing that the directive may violate federal law and compromise the institution’s independence.
In a letter signed by 71 Democrats that was first shared with Reuters, U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Paul Tonko are challenging Executive Order 14253 that was issued in March to remove exhibits, sculptures and narratives the administration considers "divisive" or "race-centered ideology."

Spoiler: full letter

The letter states that implementation of the order interferes with the Smithsonian's capacity to "document American history and culture accurately."
"What's very clear in Donald Trump's second occupancy and this anti-freedom agenda - is to undermine the freedom to learn," Pressley said in an interview.
"They want a citizenry that's ignorant and uninformed. I want them to know that these abuses of power and the lawless acts of this administration cannot go unchecked."

Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is mandated to operate as a nonpartisan and autonomous entity, free from political influence. Lawmakers said in the letter that efforts to condition funding on adherence to right-wing ideology threaten the Smithsonian’s legal compliance and oversight.
"We gain nothing by stamping out the rich and diverse history of our nation; we only condemn ourselves and the generations that follow to be more ignorant," Rep. Tonko said in a statement to Reuters.

In his first 100 days, Trump has faced a wave of legal challenges, with many ending in courtroom defeats. More than 200 lawsuits have been filed by advocacy groups, states, and individuals aiming to block executive orders on immigration, birthright citizenship, environmental rollbacks, and efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government.
The administration has removed, at times temporarily, historical content about African Americans and other minorities from government websites.

In one case, following public backlash, the National Park Service restored a quote and image of U.S. abolitionist Harriet Tubman that had been removed from a site about the Underground Railroad, which helped enslaved Africans escape, according to media reports.
President and CEO of the Association of African American Museums, Vedet Coleman-Robinson, who has played a pivotal role in several D.C. museums and creating diversity plans for their boards, said politics should not get in the way of protecting and preserving collections integral to the fabric of American history.

"These boards and museums have the responsibility to tell the truth about American history," said Coleman-Robinson. "I have a little bit of silver lining and hope that the people doing the work day-to-day will do what's right and stay true to their mission."

 

[get these nets]

Smithsonian Statement | Smithsonian Institution

In 1846, the Smithsonian was established by Congress as an independent entity. For over nearly 180 years, the Smithsonian has welcomed millions of visitors each year to experience art, history, science, and culture. Americans turn to the Smithsonian as a trusted and revered source, where they...

www.si.edu

Smithsonian asserts authority to make ‘all personnel decisions’ following Trump attempts to fire gallery director​

06/08/25

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Smithsonian Statement | Smithsonian Institution

In 1846, the Smithsonian was established by Congress as an independent entity. For over nearly 180 years, the Smithsonian has welcomed millions of visitors each year to experience art, history, science, and culture. Americans turn to the Smithsonian as a trusted and revered source, where they...

www.si.edu

Smithsonian asserts authority to make ‘all personnel decisions’ following Trump attempts to fire gallery director​

06/08/25

This is a good step. I would like to see the Smithsonian also refuse Trump's orders regarding which items can/should be displayed, particularly in the National African American History Museum.

 

[get these nets]

This is a good step. I would like to see the Smithsonian also refuse Trump's orders regarding which items can/should be displayed, particularly in the National African American History Museum.

Yeah, glad to see them pushing back.

Crazy to see the lengths that maga will go through to revise and alter Black history. Down to trying to control the displays at the NMAAHC.

 

[Yinny]

I can’t wait til this piece of shyt is dead and gone fr

 

[Dad]

that’s a major move!

Blacksonian gonna be jumping again for Juneteenth!