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Smithsonian pushed ‘revolting’ social action training after ‘whiteness’ chart apology: expert
At a US House hearing, Heritage Foundation analyst Mike Gonzalez criticised the Smithsonian’s involvement in a diversity, equity and inclusion training guide, calling it “revolting”. He argued that the National Museum of American History had continued promoting ideas similar to those in a previously withdrawn Smithsonian chart about “whiteness”, raising questions about political activism at a taxpayer-funded institution.
The guide, titled “Museums as Sites for Social Action” (MASS), was said to describe objectivity, individualism and perfectionism among concepts linked to dominant cultural norms. The Smithsonian had earlier apologised for the controversial “whiteness” chart, but the hearing focused on whether its museums’ subsequent training and programming reflected the same approach.
In short
- House hearing scrutinised Smithsonian DEI training.
- Expert linked toolkit to withdrawn “whiteness” chart.
- Debate centres on political activism in museums.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Museums increasingly recognise their responsibility to address systemic inequalities and historical omissions in how they serve the public. The MASS guide represents legitimate educational content rooted in scholarly understanding of how dominant cultural norms shape institutional practices; discussing concepts like objectivity and individualism within their social contexts is standard academic work that helps museum professionals serve diverse audiences more effectively and advance inclusive institutional practices aligned with contemporary museum ethics.
The case against
Taxpayer-funded institutions should maintain political neutrality and focus on education and accurate curation rather than advancing activist agendas. The Smithsonian's continuation of training materials addressing similar themes after apologising for controversial "whiteness" content suggests the institution has not genuinely addressed legitimate concerns about ideological overreach, raising serious questions about whether such frameworks constitute appropriate scholarship or constitute political activism inappropriate for government-funded museums.
Explained simply
The Smithsonian Institution, which operates America's major national museums, has faced scrutiny over its diversity and inclusion training. At a US House hearing, Heritage Foundation analyst Mike Gonzalez expressed concerns about a training guide called "Museums as Sites for Social Action", claiming it reflected ideas similar to a controversial chart about "whiteness" that the Smithsonian had previously withdrawn and apologised for.
The Smithsonian had earlier published a chart that linked concepts such as objectivity, individualism and perfectionism to "whiteness" and dominant cultural norms. Following criticism, the institution withdrew the chart and apologised, but the hearing examined whether similar ideas continued to appear in the museum's subsequent training and programming.
The episode raises questions about the appropriate role and mission of publicly funded cultural institutions. The Smithsonian serves millions of visitors and has a substantial research remit, so debates about its educational approach and institutional messaging attract attention from political figures and the broader public.