A Smithsonian Institution affiliate in Dearborn, Michigan, is facing scrutiny over exhibits that focus on discrimination against Arab Americans in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Arab American National Museum (AANM) highlights the "two-fold" suffering of Arab Americans, citing the tragedy itself and subsequent unfair treatment by the U.S. government.
The museum's exhibits note that while Arab Americans experienced the general grief and horror of the attacks, they also faced heightened scrutiny and what the museum describes as unfair government actions. Placards in the museum criticize the post-9/11 detention of immigrants investigated for possible terrorist links, stating that "virtually none were charged" in connection with terrorism. The museum also suggests that Arabs faced harsher immigration enforcement, with some being deported for minor visa violations or petty offenses that might have previously been overlooked.
These exhibits have drawn attention amid broader congressional scrutiny of the Smithsonian Institution and its affiliates regarding alleged political bias in presentations of American history. A White House report has previously alleged that the National Museum of American History disparages the nation's past.
The AANM, founded in 2005, receives federal funding, including grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, a relationship that allows it access to artifact loans and educational resources.
Beyond its permanent exhibits, the AANM has organized anniversary programming that examines discrimination and law-enforcement policies impacting Arab and Muslim communities. Annual town halls have focused on the "harmful prejudices" faced by these communities on individual and systemic levels, with some events discussing how communities of color have been targeted through the lens of national security.
Recent programming also includes events addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A scheduled screening of the film "Seeds for Liberation" was described as portraying Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack within a broader history of "anti-imperialist and decolonial movements." Additionally, art installations within the museum have criticized Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, with one piece accusing the Israeli government of perpetuating a system of "apartheid" and another citing figures on Palestinian children killed in military operations. The sourcing for these claims has itself become a point of contention, with some organizations distancing themselves from cited groups over allegations of antisemitism.
The museum's gift shop also offers Palestinian-themed merchandise. The Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities did not respond to requests for comment regarding the museum's exhibits and programming.