Smithsonian accused of replacing education with activism, historian says

Key Points:

• Historian Dr. Jody Edward Ginn criticized the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH) for shifting from an educational mission to activism, claiming exhibits now encourage political action rather than unbiased historical understanding.
• Ginn highlighted concerns over factually incorrect information, omission of key historical details, and the inclusion of sexually explicit content inappropriate for children and families.
• Lawmakers have echoed similar criticisms during recent hearings, questioning the museum's exhibits and training materials that link objectivity to "white supremacy culture" and address contemporary social issues like Black Lives Matter.
• NMAH Director Anthea Hartig defended the museum's revised mission, which removed "American history" to avoid an "America First" mentality, a move Ginn views as politicizing the institution.
• Ginn expressed skepticism about reversing the museum's current direction without significant staff changes to restore a focus on scholarly, non-political historical education.