kottke.orgAs part of their Smithsonian purge, the Trump regime is dismantling and removing the Woolworth’s lunch counter (a key artifact of the Civil Rights Movement) from the NMAAHC and returning other artifacts to their owners. https://blackpressusa.com/the-smithsonian-purge-trump-team-removes-artifacts-of-black-resistance/
Western Infidels@kottke They can't actually erase history, and they can't control our thoughts directly. But they sure as hell are jumping at the chance to do the second-best thing, aren't they?
Jay Baltz@kottke Just to hell with all of them. Seriously.
James Truitt (he/him)@kottke The Smithsonian has its own board of regents that should be insulating it from this chaos. What's happened with that?
Ah, okay, so most of the Smithsonian regents turn over much more quickly than I had realized. The members are
- The Chief Justice
- The VP
- 3 reps and 3 senators appointed by congressional leadership, who serve the length of their respective terms
- 9 members of the public, who are nominated by the other regents, confirmed by Congress, and serve for 6 years
si.edu/regents/members
Dinah 🕊🇺🇦@kottke Do we have confirmation and further details on this from any additional sources? It fits with what has been signaled by the administration about changing the Smithsonian, but I haven't seen the story picked up anywhere else yet.
Bwaz@kottke
Not the "Trump Team". It's the Republican Party.
Don't let them weasel out of pulling all this crap after the inevitable collapse.
I Voted for McGovern@kottke
Bastards, evil bastards
Bastards, evil bastards
rhempel@kottke Come on - even as an old white guy I can't express how this makes me feel. It's more than just wrong - and I can't find the words, and I really cannot imagine how it makes anyone who lived through this era feel.
This is newer than the end of WW2 - it's RECENT history. For some, it's not even history, it is NOW.
This administration has no shame, no sense of history, and no class.
Where is the outrage in Congress - one of the guard rails of democracy?
Gregg Alley@kottke There were protests at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greenville, SC, as well. It’s a shame the counter was never preserved. The city did erect this fine statue on the corner, several years ago. #Woolworths #GreenvilleSC #SterlingHighSchool #CivilRights
Cainmark Does Not Comply 🚲Asshats! Enemies of Humanity and Earth need to be stripped of their weird obsessions and ability to carry tem out.
Jess F@kottke
It's hard to say if this is nefarious or business as usual. What was the end date specified on the loan agreement? Were the objects supposed to become part of the permanent collection or was the plan always to return them? I'm no exhibit expert, but objects must be rotated for preservation purposes. If the objects had been on display since 2016 without rotation it might be time to rotate them.
It's hard to say if this is nefarious or business as usual. What was the end date specified on the loan agreement? Were the objects supposed to become part of the permanent collection or was the plan always to return them? I'm no exhibit expert, but objects must be rotated for preservation purposes. If the objects had been on display since 2016 without rotation it might be time to rotate them.
@kottke
This is what SI said about it: "Further, the Smithsonian routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian’s high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover. Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false." https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/statement-smithsonian-collection-items
This is what SI said about it: "Further, the Smithsonian routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian’s high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover. Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false." https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/statement-smithsonian-collection-items
Statement on Smithsonian Collection Items | Smithsonian Institution
Recent reports about the Smithsonian removing the historic Greensboro, North Carolina, lunch counter and a stool from the National Museum of American History and National Museum of African American History and Culture, respectively, are inaccurate. Both the Greensboro lunch counter and stools where college students sat in protest during the Civil Rights Movement are and continue to be on display. A stool from the sit-ins remains on view at the National Museum of African American History and Culture as the centerpiece of an interactive exhibition.
@kottke The poor guy is just frustrated he can't blow up the Bamiyan Buddhas. He's a Taliban-wannabe
Robert@kottke Sometimes, at least, sunlight sends the cockroaches scattering: https://blackpressusa.com/update-smithsonian-officials-say-the-greensboro-lunch-counter-exhibit-at-the-blacksonian-will-now-remain-at-the-museum/
MegatronicThronBanks@kottke Just adding to the list of stuff that will be reversed after they are gone. None of this is being missed or forgotten, it's all being recorded.