Black Museum Celebrates 10 Years Amid Political Pressure

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a weekend of events, highlighting its ongoing mission to preserve and share the history of African Americans.

Festivities began Thursday with a full museum activation and will extend through the weekend, with events planned at the museum on the National Mall and at The Wharf. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, the museum's founding director who recently announced his retirement, is scheduled to participate in a discussion titled “Understanding America” to commemorate the anniversary.

The museum, affectionately known by supporters as the “Blacksonian,” has faced pressure from the Trump administration. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at changing how federal government-supported museums and landmarks present historical narratives. The order instructed federal officials to work with Congress to prevent the Smithsonian from using federal funds for exhibits that allegedly promoted divisive ideologies or were inconsistent with federal law. The Interior Department also removed displays from national monuments that highlighted the histories of activists, people of color, women, and LGBTQ individuals.

Despite these challenges, the Smithsonian's leadership, accountable to a board comprising bipartisan lawmakers, private donors, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, stated that its work has continued without direct interference. Shanita Brackett, the museum's acting director, affirmed that no exhibitions or language have been altered, emphasizing that the museum's programming is "steeped in scholarship."

The Smithsonian's funding structure, a blend of federal and private sources, along with its complex governance, has made it difficult for the administration to directly influence its content, a contrast to how such changes were made at federal landmarks maintained directly by the executive branch. Nevertheless, the museum has received expressions of concern from supporters regarding any curatorial adjustments made over the past two years. Trump had also ordered the placement of signs in front of some Smithsonian buildings, warning visitors about potentially inaccurate portrayals of American history.

Brackett expressed confidence in the museum's ability to uphold its original vision: "to capture and share the unvarnished truth of African American history and culture." She reiterated that "Black history is a part of American history" and that the museum's role is to demonstrate how African American contributions have advanced the nation. She confirmed that any changes to exhibits are limited to rotating objects requiring conservation.

The idea for a museum dedicated to African American history on the National Mall dates back over a century, originating from a call by Black Civil War veterans in 1915. The concept evolved through the 20th century, gaining momentum with the growing interest in commemorating the Civil Rights Movement. Congress approved the museum's establishment in 2003, and it opened its doors on September 24, 2016. At the opening ceremony, then-President Barack Obama described the museum's story as "glorious, complicated, and messy," validating the nation's capacity for improvement.

Since its opening, the museum has welcomed nearly 14 million visitors from 200 countries and hosted over 26,000 school groups. Its ten floors explore the multifaceted history of African Americans, from their contributions to art and culture to their deep historical experiences, illustrating their place within the broader American narrative.

Visitors like Shallary Duncan of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, have expressed a desire to connect with the museum's authenticity amidst current national changes. "We don't want to see any changes that would mitigate the reality of this experience," Duncan stated, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and preserving the history of African Americans as an integral part of the nation's story.

Students from historically Black colleges and universities also visited the museum, with some noting its significance for their academic pursuits. Jaina Dotson, a student at Tuskegee University, highlighted the museum's architectural design as a subject of her research, emphasizing its role in shaping the visitor experience.