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Trump Wants Museums to Downplay Slavery: Erasing Black Pain to Rewrite America’s Past
Donald Trump has a new target in his war on truth: the Smithsonian.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that he has ordered his attorneys to begin a review of Smithsonian museums, attacking them for focusing “too much” on slavery and the painful realities of America’s past. In his words, the museums make the United States look “horrible” by showing “how bad Slavery was.”
According to a White House official, Trump doesn’t plan to stop at the Smithsonian. He intends to extend this campaign to other museums, threatening to strip away honest historical narratives in favor of what he calls a less “woke” version of history.
“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
For Trump, acknowledging centuries of brutality, oppression, and resistance in America isn’t patriotism — it’s a threat to his vision of a sanitized, government-approved history.
A Direct Attack on Black History
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture was specifically mentioned in reports, with artifacts like Harriet Tubman’s hymn-filled book already removed earlier this year. Trump’s plan includes enforcing “content corrections” across museums — replacing so-called “divisive” language with narratives that fit his administration’s agenda.
This comes just as the U.S. prepares for its 250th anniversary. Rather than reflect honestly on the past, Trump’s goal is to whitewash it — ensuring that future generations see slavery, segregation, and systemic racism as side notes instead of central truths of America’s story.
The Bigger Pattern
This assault on the Smithsonian mirrors Trump’s attacks on universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and Brown. His administration has already pulled millions in federal funding, forced schools to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and even demanded cash “settlements” from institutions.
Now, Trump is applying the same playbook to museums: weaponize funding, control the narrative, erase uncomfortable truths.
Why This Matters
History is not supposed to make people comfortable. It’s supposed to make people think. When Trump demands museums focus less on slavery, what he’s really saying is: Erase the horrors, silence the voices, and rewrite the story.
If we allow this to happen, Black pain and resilience will be pushed into the shadows — while future generations grow up learning a history stripped of truth, justice, and context.
The Smithsonian is the largest museum complex in the world, funded largely by taxpayers but traditionally independent in curating exhibits. If political pressure succeeds in controlling it, no historical institution will be safe.
Final Word
Trump’s attack on the Smithsonian isn’t just politics — it’s cultural warfare. It’s an attempt to tell our children that slavery wasn’t “that bad,” that the horrors of systemic racism don’t deserve the spotlight, and that America’s future depends on forgetting its past.
At Urban Intellectuals, we know that forgetting is not an option. If we don’t defend the truth of our history, someone else will rewrite it for us.
💥 On March 27, 2025, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” Sounds harmless—until you read between the lines.
Because what it really says is: 📉 Erase the ugly truths. 🧼 Whitewash the story. 🚫 Silence the resistance.
Behind the patriotic language lies a dangerous mission: to make America’s past palatable, comfortable, and white enough for mainstream museums and classrooms. Let’s break down what’s really happening.
1. They Want to “Correct” History—But Only Their Version of It
📜 The order calls for “correcting historical inaccuracies,” but fails to define what that means. 💥 Translation: erase anything that disrupts white American mythology.
2. Black Trauma Is Labeled “Divisive”
😢 The order suggests removing content that causes “psychological distress or division.” 💥 So… lynching, slavery, redlining, COINTELPRO? Too uncomfortable to discuss?
3. The 1619 Project Is a Target
📚 Though not mentioned by name, Trump’s allies have repeatedly called to ban it. 💥 Because the idea that America began with Black labor, not white freedom, is too real for them.
4. Indigenous Genocide? Omitted by Design
🪶 The order says history should promote “unity and shared purpose.” 💥 Nothing unites like silence, right? Native erasure continues.
5. They Want “Heroism,” Not Truth
🦅 The document promotes “heroic” interpretations of American figures. 💥 Translation: slaveholders, colonizers, and warmongers get statues—not context.
6. The Language Mirrors Anti-CRT Talking Points
📢 Words like “indoctrination,” “woke,” and “anti-American” echo the culture war’s greatest hits. 💥 This ain’t about education. It’s about silencing resistance.
7. There’s No Mention of Reparations, Redress, or Responsibility
💸 Not a single word on how to repair the damage of past injustice—just “move on.” 💥 Gaslight. Erase. Repeat.
8. Public Funding Is Being Weaponized
🏛️ Museums and institutions that don’t comply risk losing support. 💥 Obey the myth—or get defunded. It’s historical extortion.
9. They Want to “Restore Pride”—But for Who?
🇺🇸 Pride in what? Slavery? Segregation? Imperialism? 💥 Their version of pride demands our silence and submission.
10. This Is About Power—Not Preservation
🧠 Controlling history means controlling identity, education, and ultimately, the future. 💥 If you can rewrite the past, you can rewrite reality.
🧨 They’re Not Just Erasing History—They’re Rewriting the Blueprint of Oppression
This isn’t about statues, museums, or textbooks. It’s about psychological warfare. Because if they control the story, they control the soul of this country.
But we refuse to be erased.
🖤 URBAN INTELLECTUALS: EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE
🔥 We don’t make excuses. We make corrections.
🚨 That’s why we’re gathering the truth-tellers, historians, and community leaders for the Juneteenth Black History Summit.
🗓️ Wednesday, June 19 | 12–3 PM EST | Live on Zoom 📚 Discover the REAL story of freedom, resistance, and how we reclaim it. 🎤 Featuring: Dr. Chike Akua, Gina Paige, Jay Cameron, Gwen Ebron, Dr. John Aden & Freddie Taylor
The African American History Museum in Washington, D.C.—fondly nicknamed The Blacksonian—is a stunning achievement. From its architecture to the wealth of artifacts and immersive exhibits, it’s a place every member of the African Diaspora should experience.
But after spending over six hours exploring its halls, I left with a sense of awe and frustration.
Here’s my main gripe: Why does this museum start Black history with slavery?
A Dangerous Narrative
Slavery isn’t Black history—it’s an interruption of Black history. Yet, the Blacksonian begins its narrative in the 1400s with the transatlantic slave genocide. This skips over thousands of years of African excellence, innovation, and contributions to humanity.
Where are the stories of:
The empires of Mali, Songhai, and Benin?
The intellectual brilliance of Timbuktu’s universities?
The advancements in science, mathematics, and engineering from ancient Kemet to Ethiopia?
These are the stories that inspire. These are the truths that connect us to a legacy far greater than the trauma of enslavement.
Instead, the museum reinforces a narrative of dependency—painting our ancestors as victims without celebrating the brilliance and resilience they possessed before the world’s greatest holocaust.
A Call for Change
This isn’t just about correcting a museum display—it’s about rewriting the narrative for our children, our communities, and the world.
We need a Blacksonian that tells the whole story:
The legacy of African civilizations before the European invasions.
The intellectual property, skills, and culture that were stolen from Africa along with its people.
The unbroken spirit of those who endured and rebuilt.
That’s why I’m calling for a letter-writing campaign to demand a fuller, richer history be included in this important institution.
What’s Next?
Let’s be clear—the African American History Museum is an incredible space, and I encourage everyone to visit. But we can’t settle for a narrative that starts at the lowest point of our history.
📖 Want to learn the real story of our people? Check out Urban Intellectuals’ Black History Flashcards, which explore African excellence from 35,000 BCE to today: Black History Flashcards Here
📲 Join the Conversation: I’m inviting YOU to share your thoughts and join the discussion over on Sankofa Universe, our mission-driven social media network: Sankofa Universe
Together, we can ensure future generations learn the truth—not just the parts history books want us to know.
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