The Smithsonian Institution's American History Museum on the National Mall has become a symbol of the country's cultural identity, attracting between 2 million and 4 million visitors every year. However, a recent exhibit on Entertainment Nation has raised eyebrows, sparking a heated debate about the role of America's national museums.
A display in the exhibit claims that Mickey Mouse, one of America's most beloved cartoon characters, was inspired by blackface minstrelsy - an entertainment trend that demeaned African Americans in the past. While the museum's director, Anthea Hartig, denied that Mickey Mouse is a racist symbol, the exhibit has been seen as a prime example of the 'woke toxin' that has infected American education and museum culture.
The 'woke toxin' refers to the radical left's efforts to fundamentally change the way history is presented in American institutions. This agenda has been spreading for years, with practitioners systematically denigrating America and using words like 'diversity' and 'inclusion' as tools to attack the country's most important institutions.
The takeover of our national museums by this radical ideology is a disturbing trend that has been unfolding for years. It's a trend that has been met with indifference from conservatives, who have failed to take action despite the growing threat to American culture and education.
However, a recent hearing by Texas Republican Rep. Brandon Gill and the White House's Domestic Policy Council report have shed light on the extent of the problem. The reports detail how the Smithsonian has been captured by a radical, activist ideology, and how this ideology is being used to distort the truth and undermine American culture.
It's time for ordinary Americans to stand up against the radical denigration of their country and its culture. As iconic liberal historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. wrote over three decades ago, "If we repudiate the quite marvelous inheritance that history bestows on us, we invite the fragmentation of the national community into ... cultural and linguistic apartheid."
Apartheid is precisely what the left wants, in order to seize power. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, it's time to turn the telling of history in our nation's capital from condemnation to celebration. It's time to reclaim our national museums and restore them to their original purpose - to tell the story of America's greatest adventures and most inspiring triumphs.
