Preserving Our Past: Loving the Richness of History

Museums serve as storytellers, revealing the essence of cultures, identities, experiences, and pivotal historical events. They provide invaluable insights into people and places otherwise inaccessible, bridging gaps across language, geography, and time.The recent initiative by the White House to review several U.S. museums' contents is alarming. A letter to the Smithsonian Institution outlined efforts to “celebrate American exceptionalism” while eliminating potentially divisive narratives from exhibitions. Defined by Britannica, American exceptionalism suggests the U.S. is uniquely superior, a viewpoint that often neglects darker historical truths.The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), established in 2016, stands at the forefront of this discourse, highlighting essential stories. Nikole Hannah-Jones emphasized that Black history is inherently political and often challenges the narratives underpinning American ideals. As attempts to revise history unfold, the importance of preserving all aspects of our shared narrative is urgent. It asks critical questions about the nation’s values and whose stories deserve recognition in our collective memory.