A long-time civil rights activist said the Smithsonian Institution told him that items he loaned to the National Museum of African American History and Culture might be sent back, after President Donald Trump ordered a review of the museum’s collections.
Rev. Amos C. Brown, pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, loaned two books to the Smithsonian, which have been on display since the museum opened nearly ten years ago. One of them is an 1880 copy of The History of the Negro Race in America by George Washington Williams—one of the earliest books on Black history and racism in the U.S. The other is a Bible that Brown carried during marches with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
At first, the explanation for the return of these items raised concern that the Trump administration was beginning to make visible changes to a museum seen as a key symbol of Black American heritage.
Reports that exhibits about civil rights have already been taken down are not true, the Smithsonian said. The White House did not comment.
Even so, the idea that the African American museum could be changed has led to strong reactions from Democrats, historians, civil rights advocates, and educators. Many plan to protest in Washington, D.C., this Saturday in support of the museum.
Brown, who counts former Vice President Kamala Harris as a church member, got an email last month from a Smithsonian official saying the books would be returned due to concerns about damage from lighting. Brown told The Associated Press he thought that was “a flimsy excuse for a museum.”
Later, Brown said another Smithsonian official contacted him and expressed regret that the original explanation caused confusion. That official said the museum’s archivists would wait for a panel to review whether Brown’s items should remain on display. Brown said he was told the review would apply to many historical items.
Smithsonian officials did not answer questions about whether such a panel currently exists.
After that, Brown said a third official contacted him and set up a video meeting for Friday. He said he wasn’t told who else would be on the call, but was informed it would include senior Smithsonian staff.
The Smithsonian said it “routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements” and changes its displays based on “high standards of care and preservation” and museum scheduling.
“Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false,” the statement said.
Concerns began after Trump signed a March 27 executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The order said the Smithsonian had come under the influence of “a divisive, race-centered ideology” and accused it of promoting views that cast American and Western values in a harmful light.
The order put Vice President JD Vance and White House aide Lindsey Halligan in charge of removing “improper ideology” from Smithsonian institutions. This includes 21 museums and the National Zoo. The Smithsonian is responsible for research, education, and caring for over 150 million artifacts.
The executive order listed several national parks and Smithsonian museums, including the African American museum, as having potentially troubling content.
The Smithsonian is overseen by a Board of Regents led by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. The board includes Vance, lawmakers from both parties, business leaders, and philanthropists. Their next meeting is set for June 9.
Many lawmakers, historians, and activists worry the order might lead to changes that remove displays, objects, or research that the Trump administration disagrees with.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote to Roberts saying the order “seeks to whitewash our history” and is “cowardly and unpatriotic.” He compared it to tactics used by authoritarian governments in the past.
The Exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture“We wouldn’t need African American history exhibits if America hadn’t been founded by excluding African Americans and distorting our image,” said Rep. Jonathan Jackson. Jackson, son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, said his family is featured in several Smithsonian exhibits and they haven’t been contacted about any changes.
“So this makes American history whole, and I think (Trump) should go and visit it before he attempts to erase and delete and distort that tradition,” said the Illinois Democrat. Trump visited the African American museum in 2017. After the visit, he posted on social media that the museum was “A great job done by amazing people!”
The order has sparked organizing efforts among civil rights leaders. More than 30 groups have come together to launch a “Freedom to Learn” campaign, which will feature a rally and march at the African American museum on May 3.
Groups involved include the NAACP, National Urban League, Black Voters Matter, Movement for Black Lives, National Council of Negro Women, and others.
Black churches have shown support for the museum and held demonstrations while urging people to stand behind it in light of the possible changes.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016 and holds over 40,000 items that tell the story of over 400 years of Black American history. Its exhibits cover daily life, culture, contributions to business, religion, sports, and politics, as well as the long effects of slavery, segregation, and racism.
Brown, now 84, said he previously had a good relationship with the Smithsonian regarding his loaned items. As a young activist, he worked with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, and John Lewis. He criticized the Smithsonian for not being open about the changes at the museum.
“Behave. Be respectful. Speak truth to those who sit in seats of power,” Brown said about how to respond. “Let’s be kind and just. If we don’t, Dr. King was right — Martin was right — that if we don’t learn to live together, brothers and sisters, we’re all going to perish as fools.”