Workflow
History
icon
Search documents
'Would be obscene': Smithsonian shouldn't align with Trump's view of history, says Eugene Robinson
MSNBC· 2025-08-22 11:44
Content Review Focus - The Trump administration, led by Lindseay Halligan, is reviewing content at the Smithsonian Museums, believing they overemphasize slavery [1] - Halligan suggests museums should focus on "how far we've come" and the progress made since slavery [1][3][4] - The review aims to ensure the Smithsonian aligns with President Trump's view of Washington and the nation's history, making DC a place all Americans want to visit [4][5] Concerns Regarding Historical Representation - Critics argue aligning the Smithsonian with Trump's view of history would be ahistorical and an obscenity, denying the nation's history [6] - Concerns are raised about "whitewashing" or downplaying the history of slavery and its aftermath, including Jim Crow discrimination [5][7][8] - Some believe acknowledging the full context of slavery, including hope and progress, is essential for an honest portrayal [3] Political Implications - The White House's actions are seen as appealing to its base, suggesting the left has been lazy in celebrating the country [12] - Critics argue that celebrating the country fully requires acknowledging its difficult past and the struggles of minorities [13][14] - The President's attempt to control culture and the arts raises concerns about expanding power, potentially leading voters to seek checks on presidential power [15][16]
Smithsonian visitors react to Trump's criticism that museums are too "WOKE"
MSNBC· 2025-08-21 03:07
Huh. You see it right. He dead serious, too.He's lit literally. It's caps. I don't think I can comment without cussing.It's just horrible. I'm very cuz I I can read. Yeah, I can read, but this don't look I have to keep rereading it because this don't this isn't a joke.It's beyond disappointing. It's depressing. But to have the president of the United States saying something like this, it's just unconscionable.It's not a shocker to be honest with you. I didn't know he had like that much hate towards us thoug ...
An ‘echo’ from the past: Why Trump’s rewriting of history at the Smithsonian should concern you
MSNBC· 2025-08-17 21:31
>> WELL. >> WE WANT THE MUSEUMS TO. TREAT OUR.COUNTRY FAIRLY. WE WANT THE MUSEUMS TO. >> TALK ABOUT.>> THE HISTORY OF. >> OUR COUNTRY IN A FAIR. >> MANNER, NOT.>> IN A WOKE MANNER OR IN A RACIST MANNER, WHICH IS WHAT MANY OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MANY OF THEM ARE DOING. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP THERE, OUTLINING HIS MOTIVES IN ORDERING A REVIEW OF EXHIBITIONS AND MATERIALS AT EIGHT SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICA ...
‘History can unite us’: Djimon Hounsou talks importance of preserving stories in age of Trump
MSNBC· 2025-08-17 13:59
Historical Interpretation & Preservation - The discussion emphasizes the importance of honoring and learning from the past to unite people and provide a common ground for reflection, especially during times of social change [5] - It highlights the potential for historical mistakes if the truth of history is ignored, particularly concerning African American history as an inseparable part of American history [7][8] - The need to be factual when remembering history is stressed to avoid repeating past mistakes [9] - The speaker is partnering with the City of Richmond, Virginia, to mark African Landing Day, commemorating the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia [3] Cultural Impact & Political Conversation - Movies like Amistad can be instrumental in promoting and preserving history, raising awareness and understanding [13][14] - The Trump administration's efforts to cleanse and rewrite history, particularly black history, are criticized [2][4] - The importance of culture, TV, and movies in shaping the political conversation is noted, especially in the context of attempts to control culture for political purposes [12] Reconciliation & Healing Initiatives - The speaker's foundation is starting an event called "Run Richmond 1619" to bring about reconciliation, healing, and reconnect the African diaspora to its continent [9] - The speaker will be visiting historical sites pertaining to Black history in Virginia and addressing the commission along with local partners, including Fort Monroe Projects 1619 [10] - Research indicates the first landing place of enslaved Africans was Point Comfort in Hampton, Virginia, not Jamestown [11]
‘We have to tell the whole story’: Jon Meacham takes down Trump’s censorship of Smithsonian museums
MSNBC· 2025-08-16 18:56
Government Oversight & Historical Interpretation - The White House is conducting an internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions to ensure alignment with the president's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism and remove divisive narratives [1] - The administration plans to review eight Smithsonian museums initially, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Portrait Gallery [1] - The President signed an executive order claiming the Smithsonian has come under the influence of a divisive race-centered ideology and directed the Vice President to remove improper ideology [1] Historical Perspective & Cultural Significance - 97% of Americans believe museums are educational assets for their communities [1] - 92% of adults in the US consider museums as nonpartisan providers of educational content [1] - Three-quarters (75%) of the American public believe museums are an important part of civil society and support civic knowledge and participation [1] - History is complex, involving both positive and negative aspects, and understanding the full story is crucial for learning [3][4] Curatorial Integrity & Evolving Narratives - Museums should evolve, discuss, and review their content, with curators and experts playing a key role in ensuring accuracy and comprehensiveness [10] - The telling of history involves curation, emphasizing certain aspects and minimizing others, which is a matter of opinion [6][7][8]
Chance the Rapper talks new album 'Star Line'
MSNBC· 2025-08-15 20:54
Project Overview - The project, titled "Starline," is a reflection of the past six years, encompassing travels to Accra, Ghana, and West Africa [1] - The project explores the artist's history and connections to global communities, which is reflected in the music [1] - The name "Star Line" is inspired by Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line, a Black-owned shipping and trading company from the 1920s [2] Historical and Cultural Significance - Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line represented self-determination and charting one's own path for Black people in the US [2] - The artist's recent years have been dedicated to learning about personal and collective histories, which is a prominent theme in the project [2]
X @The Economist
The Economist· 2025-08-08 16:15
The historian argues that Japan stayed in the war much longer than necessary https://t.co/75tWb7HYBA ...
X @𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗸𝘆
没错。整个人类史,不如我每天遛狗捡屎。River Leaf (@riverleaf88):@passluo @neoduan23 人类历史有两部分组成一部分是“书写的历史”,就是你上面说的另一部分是未书写的历史,它比书写的历史要漫长很多,也要广阔很多。而真实的历史中的绝大部分人,甚至一些特别牛逼特别伟大的人,都活在未书写的历史中所以作为普通人,要对书写的历史免疫,更要对自己生活的当下的舆论免疫。为自己活 ...
X @Wendy O
Wendy O· 2025-07-21 01:57
My mom is giving me an American history lesson.Listen to your elders.They are the real history books. ...
Teaching AI about war: Why democratising history leads to better AI | Nick Hodder | TEDxWinchester
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-11 16:36
Museums and Accessibility - Museums should strive to create a sense of belonging and community to enable shared knowledge for everyone [25] - Museums need to engage with everyone, from staff recruitment to collecting and interpretation, to foster inclusivity [23] - Museums should use relatable language and humor to create human connections and make history engaging [25] AI in Museums - AI can help museums understand their collections and find new connections, enabling discovery and participation [21] - AI can be used to analyze images and provide detailed descriptions, but the quality of data used to train AI is critical [15][22] - AI can accelerate change in museums, but the focus should remain on human understanding and storytelling [23] Collection and Interpretation - Museums often focus on a narrow, white middle-class Western narrative, neglecting other perspectives [16] - Museums face a storage problem, leading them to refuse many personal items and stories [11][12] - There is a need to make room for new perspectives and stories in museum collections [13]