Smithsonian caught in the crosshairs of Trump's history wars
Briefly

The article discusses the author's journey of developing a passion for history through various museums, illustrating how personal experiences can shape one's understanding of the subject. However, this passion is now threatened by political actions, specifically an executive order issued by the Trump administration. The order, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," claims that historical narratives have been distorted and seeks to direct museums like the Smithsonian to present a more traditional and less controversial perspective on American history, reflecting the ongoing contestation in how history is interpreted and taught.
The Trump administration's executive order aims to challenge the way U.S. history is reflected in museums, particularly critiquing perceived ideological biases in historical narratives.
The writer reflects on personal experiences that cultivate a passion for history while noting the contentiousness surrounding historical representation in contemporary discourse.
Trump's directive emphasizes correcting an alleged trend of historical rewriting that he claims presents America's past as fundamentally flawed, highlighting the complexities of historical interpretations.
The narrative surrounding history remains debated; scholars often disagree on what aspects should be prioritized or marginalized in educational materials about American history.
Read at Fast Company
[
|
]