Scholar Says Trump's Efforts to Reframe U.S. History Are 'Reminiscent of McCarthyism'
Explore how a scholar compares former President Trump's efforts to reshape U.S. history education to McCarthy-era tactics.
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
President Trump described Smithsonian museums as “out of control” for emphasizing, in his view, “how bad slavery was.” It's part of a pattern by Trump in his second term to reframe historical narratives, in particular about racism and discrimination. Amna Nawaz spoke with historian Peniel Joseph for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our CANVAS coverage.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What institution did President Trump describe as "out of control" and why?
- Who is Peniel Joseph, and what is his background?
- How does Joseph argue that the fight over history in museums is part of a struggle that goes back generations?
- What argument are people making to defend slavery, according to host Amna Nawaz?
- Why does Joseph compare this current moment to the McCarthy era?
Focus Questions
- How do you think the exhibits in the Smithsonian should be chosen and displayed? Who should have a say?
- Do you think changing museum displays could or would have an impact on
- Media Literacy: If you could create an exhibit that highlights a moment in U.S. history that you think people should know more about, what would it look like?
Extension Activity
Read this article by NPR about President Trump's review of museums.
After reading, discuss your thoughts with a partner and answer the questions below.
- How many institutions has President Trump said he wants to review?
- What does President Trump believe museums are focusing too much on?
- Why is the Smithsonian the first museum to receive this inspection?
- What other institutions is President Trump reviewing?
As a class, discuss your answers to the media literacy question — what moment or event in history do you think should be highlighted in a museum? Are you aware of local history that you think the national public should know about? If there is time, sketch out what your exhibit would look like.
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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