‘Let’s tell the truth’: Smithsonian head given standing ovation as he hits back at Trump attacks
Outgoing secretary Lonnie Bunch rejects claims the institution is unpatriotic, telling audience ‘You cannot understand all without illuminating the dark corners’
TL;DR
- Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch defended the organization against political interference, asserting that presenting historical truths is an act of love for the country.
- Bunch rejected claims that the Smithsonian or its exhibitions are unpatriotic, emphasizing that the institution's work reflects 'great love' and 'great respect' for America.
- His remarks were made amid criticism from Donald Trump's administration, which accused the Smithsonian of being radical and ordered a review of its content.
- Bunch argued that understanding slavery is 'foundational' to comprehending the US and that illuminating the 'dark corners' of history is essential.
- He stressed that museum curation must be based on independent scholarship, not political pressure, and that one cannot understand the 'greatness of a country without understanding the totality of a country'.
- Bunch called the African American museum a 'beacon of possibility' and a 'place of resistance' that will endure.