A prominent political figure criticized museums across the country as 'woke,' singled out the Smithsonian as 'out of control,' and complained that exhibits emphasize how horrible the country is and how bad slavery was. The criticism followed a televised panel where a guest argued that slavery cannot be blamed on one race and that museums overemphasize white participation. A network anchor opened a news program with a forceful rebuttal declaring that slavery was evil and the nation's original sin. The anchor said understanding American history requires fully grappling with slavery's impact on Black bodies, spirits, and lives. The broadcast included testimony from a formerly enslaved person.
PHILLIP (on camera): Good evening. I'm Abby Phillip in New York. Last week on this show, a guest shocked the table by arguing in part that slavery in America can't just be blamed on one race and that museums put too much focus on the role of white people who participated in that terrible institution. And now tonight, that same argument is being pushed by the president of the United States.
But on this topic, it's important to say objectively, slavery was indeed bad. It was evil, the nation's original sin. And it is impossible to understand the true history of this country without fully grappling with slavery's impact simply because of their birthplace and the color of their skin, the bodies and spirits of black men, women, and children, were exploited for profit and power.
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