Smithsonian Hearing Sparks Controversy
During a hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) questioned Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, regarding guidance that seems to associate civility with white supremacy.
This exchange took place at a hearing titled “Rewriting America’s History: Examining the Smithsonian Institution’s Efforts to Reconstruct the Past,” which followed claims from the White House Domestic Policy Council about pervasive left-wing bias in the museum’s portrayal of American history.
“Is being polite important?” Gill asked, to which Hartig agreed, stating, “Yes, doctor.”
However, he pointed out that the same toolkit the museum endorses describes civility as a trait of white supremacist culture, putting Hartig on the spot by asking, “Ma’am, are you a white supremacist?” To this, she firmly denied.
“But I’m wondering why your organization would say that civility is linked to white supremacist ideals,” Gill continued, questioning the rationale.
Hartig admitted she was not familiar with the specific part of the toolkit Gill was referencing, which he insisted he had just read.
The dialogue hinted at 2021 guidelines put out by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, citing numerous attributes associated with “white supremacy culture,” including the emphasis on being polite.
Gill also raised concerns about the museum’s usage of the MASS (Museums as Sites for Social Action) toolkit, particularly some language suggesting that objectivity is a characteristic of white supremacist culture. He quoted a phrase regarding the suppression of emotion and a preference for linear thinking.
“Is aiming for objectivity linked to white supremacy? Don’t you think that’s a problem?” Gill questioned.
Hartig clarified that the toolkit wasn’t created by the Smithsonian and had been referenced earlier, possibly in 2019-2020.
Turning to a lighter topic, Gill provocatively asked, “Is Mickey Mouse racist?” Hartig asserted, “Mickey Mouse is not a racist.”
But Gill pushed further, referencing a Smithsonian exhibit that suggested Mickey Mouse embodies traits from blackface minstrelsy and asked if she would label that as racist. Hartig responded that the historical context of the character’s origins is indeed significant.
“So you’re saying Mickey Mouse has roots in racism?” Gill challenged. Hartig acknowledged that such roots exist, saying, “Indeed, it is rooted in [minstrelsy].”
When asked if she personally had issues with Mickey Mouse, Hartig deflected, stating, “I’m not the judge of what’s wrong. I’m simply here to provide accurate information.”
