The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture in Baltimore is taking a stand to protect Black history. A large, colorful sign on the museum’s north side reads ‘Protecting Black History’ in bold black letters against red, yellow, and white backgrounds.

Trump’s Executive Order

In March 2025, former President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14253, which called for the removal of many references to slavery in exhibits at national parks and museums. The order also targeted references to Native Americans, women’s rights, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ history.

The Center for American Progress conducted a review of censorship under Trump’s executive order and found that the administration was attempting to rewrite American history by censoring the stories of marginalized groups. Nearly half of all national parks were flagged for Black history content, making it the most heavily targeted category.

Judicial Pushback

In February, a federal judge ordered the Department of the Interior to restore an exhibit on people enslaved by George Washington at a site on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Another federal judge ordered the administration to restore all sites changed under the executive order and end further attempts to rewrite the nation’s history.

Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Lewis Museum, stated that the museum is proud to tell the stories of triumphs and tragedies that make up the human narratives binding communities, neighborhoods, and counties in Maryland. The museum will continue to protect Black history for generations to come.

Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.