National Trust Faces Backlash Over 'Ultra-Woke' Black History Month Plans for Young Children
Critics condemn initiative teaching five-year-olds about the Black Power salute during a cookie-baking workshop as 'pathetic' and 'ultra-woke' propaganda.
The National Trust has drawn criticism for its plans to teach children as young as five about the Black Power salute as part of its Black History Month events. The initiative, set to take place at Morden Hall Park in south London, involves a baking workshop for children aged five to 12, where they will learn about the origins of the salute.
Critics have described the plans as 'pathetic' and evidence that the charity has strayed from its core mission of preserving historic heritage. Cornelia van der Poll of the campaign group Restore Trust argued that any connection between the Black Power salute and Morden Hall Park is "highly contrived" and politically charged, detracting from the property's relevant history.
Historian Andrew Roberts called the move "sad, pathetic but wholly predictable," stating that the National Trust is using the event to "force Left-wing propaganda down their throats." He suggested that the Trust should focus on teaching children about the property itself rather than engaging with political subjects.
The National Trust's website states that the baking session will educate children on the "inspiring story of Olympic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos and their iconic Black Power salute" from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Following this, children will bake "Olympic Gold Cookies."
Smith and Carlos famously raised black-gloved fists on the Olympic podium to protest systemic racism and segregation in the United States. The salute has since become a symbol of the civil rights movement.
Van der Poll also contended that the Trust's framing of the event implies a connection to slavery for Morden Hall Park, despite the property's historical use primarily involving a snuff-processing business owned by its previous family. She criticized the Trust for assigning victim status to people of African descent and treating them as a group rather than as individuals interested in historic properties.
A National Trust spokesperson defended the programming, stating that the organization offers opportunities for all ages to explore significant historical events and ideas. The spokesperson added that activities during Black History Month encompass 18th to 20th-century history, including "how they became such a significant moment in modern history" at Morden Hall Park.
An unnamed National Trust member expressed a desire for the children to simply have a chance to bake, suggesting the Trust should focus on the property's history rather than the Black Power salute.