National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig has come under fire for comments she made during a presentation to University of California, Los Angeles students in February 2025. In the presentation, Hartig described history as a “prime tool of social justice,” sparking controversy and debate about the role of museums in promoting social justice.

Controversy Over Smithsonian’s Record of Objectivity

Hartig’s comments have raised questions about the Smithsonian’s record of objectivity and nonpartisanship. During a series of congressional hearings on Capitol Hill, Hartig defended the Smithsonian’s approach to history, stating that the museum’s work is governed by the Smithsonian standards of scholarship, accuracy, independence, and nonpartisanship.

However, critics argue that Hartig’s comments suggest a more nuanced approach to history, one that prioritizes social justice over objectivity. Hartig’s presentation also included a land acknowledgement and a slide showing a picture of an American flag defaced with words that appeared to read “Defund the Police,” which some have interpreted as a sign of the museum’s political leanings.

Smithsonian’s Bold New Vision

Hartig highlighted the museum’s “bold new vision” to become the “most accessible, inclusive, relevant, and sustainable public history institution in the country.” This vision includes a proactive multilingual strategy to support language justice and a commitment to documenting and preserving the history of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The museum has also joined a Smithsonian-wide collecting effort to document and preserve objects related to the Black Lives Matter movement, which Hartig described as a “phenomenal” and “poignant” expression of social justice.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.