Smithsonian DEI Training Guide Sparks Controversy
Staff at the Smithsonian Institution played an important role in creating a DEI training guide that one expert described as “rebellious.” This development emerged during a series of House hearings this week, despite the institution having previously distanced itself from a controversial chart on “whiteness.”
Mike Gonzalez, an expert in DEI and identity politics from the Heritage Foundation, testified that, even after the Smithsonian apologized for its “whiteness” chart, the National Museum of American History continued to endorse similar ideas through a toolkit named “Museums as Sites of Social Action” (MASS). Like the earlier chart, this toolkit identifies objectivity, individualism, and perfectionism amongst others as traits linked to white supremacy.
Moreover, Gonzalez pointed out that the museum leadership has actively engaged staff in ongoing “educational” efforts, including reading sessions focused on these materials.
“Three years after the museum apologized for its prior mistakes, it’s still quietly pushing this agenda. This implies that their promises are just sandcastles,” Gonzalez stated during one of his testimonies. “Their leaders have always indicated an intention to utilize the museum to reshape America and society. They view history as a vehicle for social change.”
In 2020, the National Museum of African American History and Culture had removed a chart that categorized “objective, rational, linear thinking” as elements of “whiteness” and admitted, “We made a mistake in including this chart. We have removed it and apologize.”
During this week’s hearings, Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) challenged Anthea Hartig, the museum’s director, referencing a part of the MASS toolkit that links objectivity to white supremacy. Hartig insisted the museum did not create this toolkit and claimed, “We are not promoting any ideology.”
However, Gonzalez countered that the toolkit was co-authored by six current and former Smithsonian employees, including those from NMAH, and referred to museum documents.
“This is the kind of tactic Marxists employ. People aiming to genuinely transform a nation often take control of cultural institutions to influence public thought,” he remarked.
Gonzalez’s comments didn’t stop there. He noted that a 2022 report co-authored by Smithsonian Director Ronnie Bunch endorsed the MASS Action Toolkit as an effective approach for implementing DEI training.
“One of the significant aspects of this work is guiding leaders away from traits traditionally associated with white dominance, such as perfectionism and risk aversion,” the report stated.
He went on to ask, “Does anyone here really think perfection is a white characteristic? Apparently, that’s what the museum director thinks.”
Gonzalez also implied that Bunch himself subscribes to what he termed “racist rhetoric.” He urged Congress to act and reclaim the Smithsonian from what he sees as deceptive leaders using it for ideological purposes, saying, “This madness has gone on long enough.”
Fox News Digital has sought a response from the Smithsonian and the National Museum of American History regarding these claims.
