SMITHSONIAN DENIES REMOVAL OF CIVIL RIGHTS ARTIFACTS AMID EXECUTIVE ORDER CONTROVERSY
Washington, D.C. — The Smithsonian Institution has firmly denied reports that it has removed key civil rights artifacts from the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), calling the claims “false” and “inaccurate,” amid growing concern about a federal executive order targeting so-called “divisive” historical content.
The controversy began when journalist Ashlee Banks published a report on The Kicker, highlighting the case of Rev. Amos C. Brown, who said two items he had loaned to the museum—a historic Bible and a rare 19th-century publication—were abruptly returned with no discussion or explanation. Brown called the move “dishonest and demeaning.”
The article also cited unnamed sources claiming the removal of other significant artifacts, including Nat Turner’s Bible and the Greensboro sit-in stool. That reporting spread quickly on social media, prompting a public statement from the Smithsonian.
“Both the Greensboro lunch counter and stools where college students sat in protest during the Civil Rights Movement are and continue to be on display,” the Smithsonian said in an official statement released this week. “Suggestions that the Smithsonian had planned or intended to remove these items are false.”
A deeper look confirms that the Greensboro sit-in stool remains on display at NMAAHC as part of an interactive exhibit, while the lunch counter segment is still exhibited at the National Museum of American History.
Loan Returns or Political Pressure?
The Smithsonian emphasized that artifact returns, like those involving Rev. Brown, follow formal loan agreements and conservation best practices. “Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false,” the institution reiterated in its press release.
Still, the timing has sparked broader concerns. The removals coincided with a revived executive order from President Donald J. Trump that seeks to eliminate “divisive, race-centered ideology” from federally funded institutions. The order—known by some as the reboot of the controversial 2020 “1776 Commission”—has raised red flags among historians and civil rights groups.
A report by NBC News confirmed that some artifacts, like Nat Turner’s Bible, were no longer on view but noted that the Smithsonian attributes these removals to standard rotation and preservation—not political interference.
The Role of Independent Media and the Black Church
Ashlee Banks, who broke the story, continues to stand by her reporting and urged institutions to operate with greater transparency when handling sacred or historically significant items.
Meanwhile, Black clergy and cultural leaders have rallied in defense of the museum’s role in telling unvarnished American history. According to Essence, Rev. Robert Turner of Baltimore led a public prayer outside the museum last week, laying a wreath to symbolize the need for protection of Black historical narratives.
Other leaders have called for increased funding and community oversight, encouraging local archiving and education initiatives to reduce dependence on federal institutions.
Looking Ahead
Although there is no verified evidence that the Smithsonian acted under political pressure, the incident has heightened scrutiny on how museums handle Black history in a time of rising political polarization. Advocacy organizations continue to call for the revocation of the executive order and for the federal government to recommit to protecting historically marginalized narratives.
As Yahoo News reported, the Smithsonian has pledged to preserve its curatorial independence and to keep telling the full story of America—one that includes the pain, resistance, and resilience of Black people in this country.
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