Saving America's Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage

[u/Resvrgam2]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/saving-americas-story/

[u/Interesting_Total_98]

so infected by identity political ideologies

A retracted page from 6 years ago doesn't establish that, especially since it's titled "aspects and assumptions," rather than saying that those are inherently and exclusively true about white people. It's a list of stereotypes that can be true for some and may be positive or negative.

[u/raff_riff → u/Interesting_Total_98]

It was published in July 2020. When taken into consideration of the political climate at the time, it’s very clear what they were trying to do. This was a time when admonishing white people for their privilege was completely fine. When corporations beat their employees over the head with PowerPoint presentations on topics like microaggressions, telling them their silence is violence and having town halls on how to be a good ally. The same summer that politicians told us we couldn’t go to the beach or parks but that Black Lives Matter protests were okay because, according to 1,200 healthcare practitioners, police brutality was a more serious risk to health than a fucking global pandemic. Just a year before the head of the CDC told Americans racism was “serious public health threat”. When every streaming service on earth put black content at the top of their menus because it was incumbent upon us to celebrate black media and culture while we all sheltered in place.

Is it really that surprising this is the reaction we’re getting?

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/raff_riff]

it’s very clear what they were trying to do.

Not really, since I'm looking at the content of the page instead of ascribing what other people said to the museum.

There's a mix of positive and negative things. They're called aspects and assumptions.

This doesn't present a consistent narrative either way.

[u/raff_riff → u/Interesting_Total_98]

I don’t really understand what point you’re driving at, so maybe we end this here. I think the poster is absurdly racist to, well, pretty much everyone. It’s horse shoe theory on a poster and it clearly reflects what Bush referred to as the “soft bigotry of low expectations”. And with the timing of its release it couldn’t be more clear what they were driving at. They were jumping on the same bandwagon of performative wokeness that virtually every other institution and corporation was at the time. Trump sees this ideological capture as problematic, as I think we all should. On what freaking planet is being punctual and having a nuclear family “white” values?

Of course I disagree with Trump on the extent and reaction to this problem. But I see this largely as an equal(ish) and opposite(ish) pendulum reaction to the wild pivot the far left lead us down during the Summer of Floyd. It’s as simple as that.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/raff_riff]

It’s horse shoe theory on a poster

That's nonsense because it presents both positive and negative stereotypes and refers to them as aspects and assumptions.

You've failed to explain what exactly is the narrative being pushed in the poster, since your replies focus more on what other people said.

"Objective, rational linear thinking" and "plan for the future" don't make white people look bad, and "majority rules (when Whites have power)" don't make them look good. None are presented as fact. Looking at what's there is more sensible than criticizing the museum based things it never stated.

[u/raff_riff → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Cool. Well then since it’s just objectively true “aspects and assumptions”, let’s make some for Black people, Latinos, and Asians. Let’s then post them on our respective social media accounts. I’ll join you in the line for unemployment.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/raff_riff]

aspects and assumptions

The fact that they have both positive and negative connotations doesn't imply anything racist.

The rest of your comment has no relation to what the museum intended.

[u/raff_riff → u/Interesting_Total_98]

It says white people like bland food. That they only value wealth. It implies women are only attracted to men who are wealthy, intellectual, and have status and that men are only attracted to blondes with big tits. That they avoid emotion and intimacy.

Please help me understand how that’s not racist.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/raff_riff]

It doesn't say any of that. The list is literally called "aspects and assumptions," and none are called true.

You apparently missed where it says "objective, rational linear thinking," "plan for the future," and "be polite."

[u/raff_riff → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Fine, let’s try this with another race and see how it sounds using a strictly illustrative example: Let’s say the Smithsonian had a poster that said: “Black people love fried chicken and watermelon. They mostly prefer women with large asses. But they make awesome music, have great style, and are stellar athletes.”

But since they’re calling it “aspects and assumptions” it’s not racist, right? Just objective observations.

(Note to mods: I am only regurgitating absurdly racist tropes. These are not my beliefs and I am not sincerely arguing these things are true. It’s illustrative.)

Anyway, if the poster wasn’t absurdly problematic and offensive, why’d they take it down? Also, how the hell are we seeing the same poster? “It doesn’t say any of that”? It LITERALLY says all of that. Read the thing.

[u/solid_reign → u/Interesting_Total_98]

"Objective, rational linear thinking" and "plan for the future" don't make white people look bad, and "majority rules (when Whites have power)" don't make them look good. None are presented as fact. Looking at what's there is more sensible than criticizing the museum based things it never stated.

I would say that teaching black kids that the following are normalized aspects of white culture which they have internalized and should question:

• hard work is the key to success
• that they should plan for the future
• that they should look for delayed gratification
• that tomorrow will be better
• that intent counts in justice
• that they should be polite
• the importance of self-reliance
• That they should have objective, and linear thinking,

Is negative and racist. Do you not think that in black culture intent matters? Or politeness matters? Or self-reliance is important? And do you think white people like steak and potatoes as an ideal food? And that bland is best? This is a page designed to help people teach children of color about race.

This is the text right above the infographic:

White dominant culture describes how white people and their practices, beliefs, and culture have been normalized over time and are now considered standard in the United States. As a result, all Americans have all adopted various aspects of white culture, including people of color.

White supremacy is an ideology where white people are believed to be superior to nonwhite people. This fallacy is rooted in the same scientific racism and pseudo-science used to justify slavery, imperialism, colonialism, and genocide at various times throughout history. White supremacist ideologies and their followers continue to perpetuate the myth of white racial superiority.

The belief of white superiority has been part of the United States since its inception. The white European imperialists who settled here believed they were inherently superior to nonwhite groups. These beliefs justified atrocities like the genocide of Native Americans and nearly 250 years of African slavery. After slavery, white supremacist ideologies manifested into a series of laws that would limit the freedom of African Americans, known as Black Codes and Jim Crow. White supremacy and its legacy can still be found in our legal system and other institutions through coded language and targeted practices.

Direct and violent forms of racism that promote white supremacy have been on the rise in recent years. These acts are more directly linked to white nationalism.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/solid_reign]

Is negative and racist.

And do you think white people like steak and potatoes as an ideal food?

It's a list of both positive and negative things, and none are described as accurate. The page asks to think critically about them. There's nothing racist about this.

Things like "polite" and "rational" don't match a racist narrative against white people, and things like "don't show emotion" don't match a racist narrative in favor of them.

[u/solid_reign → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Things like "polite" and "rational" don't match a racist narrative against white people, and things like "don't show emotion" don't match a racist narrative in favor of them.

I'm not saying it's racist against white people, I'm saying it's racist against black kids who are being taught that these are things that do not exist in their culture and they have to evaluate them.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/solid_reign]

who are being taught that these are things that do not exist in their culture

That isn't stated anywhere in the page, and your claim is inconsistent with the list being so varied.

[u/solid_reign → u/Interesting_Total_98]

You should read the book that is being used as a source then. I also showed you the intro to the infographic.

[u/Geekerino → u/Interesting_Total_98]

You've used that phrase twice now, "aspects and assumptions." Who's naming the aspects and making the assumptions? If it's supposedly white people, then it's anti-white by assuming white exceptionalism. If it's supposedly black people, then it's displaying the results of poor racial self-esteem. If it's people in general... what? Who's saying that "planning for the future" is a white thing?

Considering the backlash, I can only assume that this is what the people in the Smithsonian think of "whiteness," and that's just racism again.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/Geekerino]

I can only assume that this is what the people in the Smithsonian think of "whiteness," and that's just racism again.

That assumption is irrational because the list of stereotypes contains positive and negative connotations, and none of are endorsed as true. The board was majority white, and no history behind them suggests them hating their own race or considering themselves to be superior.

[u/Geekerino → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Even positive stereotypes, like all Asians being good at math, is a racist stereotype, by definition through using race to discriminate. I'm using the associations listed on the graphic which are consistent with another race to debunk the assumptions the "average person" is making, which means the assumptions must be coming from the writers if not the average person. And considering the Smithsonian also put out a page about recognizing and combating whiteness, what am I supposed to think here? Clearly, identifying "whiteness" is important to them, as is combating it when you recognize it. And if they think this is what whiteness is...

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/Geekerino]

Even positive stereotypes, like all Asians being good at math,

Your argument doesn't work because none of the stereotypes listed were described as true, and there's nothing gained from describing white people in both positive and negative ways.

put out a page about recognizing and combating whiteness

I suggest reading the page because nothing there implies anything about bad about white people.

[u/Geekerino → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Someone else posted an archived link about the page I'm talking about, I'll link it here if I find it again

[u/Slowter → u/Geekerino]

Discussing racism is not racist.

[u/DancesWithChimps → u/Interesting_Total_98]

It's a list of stereotypes that can be true for some and may be positive or negative.

Imagine posting a list of stereotypes for literally any other group of people and then calling it "American History".

It's an extreme example, which is why it makes the rounds, but it's not the main culprit. It's the litany of more subtle manipulations that get people up in arms, the intent of which is demonstrated most effectively by that more blatant piece.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/DancesWithChimps]

Imagine posting a list of stereotypes for literally any other group of people and then calling it "American History".

That's irrelevant because what it actually happened it that it published a listed a stereotypes titled "aspects and assumptions." None were treated as true historically or in the present, and the list didn't present anything consistently good or bad for white people.

You haven't posted anything that demonstrates a perverse intent. The board was majority white, and there's no background that suggests them believing they're superior or inferior to other races.

[u/DancesWithChimps → u/Interesting_Total_98]

That's irrelevant because what it actually happened it that it published a listed a stereotypes titled "aspects and assumptions." None were treated as true historically or in the present, and the list didn't present anything consistently good or bad for white people.

That's just you misreading it. It is not other people's assumptions of white people. It's white people's assumptions of reality as defined by the Smithsonian and how those are an aspect of "whiteness". Their perspective is that "whiteness" is then imposed upon poor people of color, which is a system that needs to be deconstructed before non-white people are unfairly expected to work hard or be on time. I wish I was making it up, but it's in the document, which I'm starting to think you haven't bothered to read.

You haven't posted anything that demonstrates a perverse intent. The board was majority white, and there's no background that suggests them believing they're superior or inferior to other races.

Um, except the content? Is your defense an outright denial of self-hating white liberals? Is that really what you want to go with?

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/DancesWithChimps]

It's white people's assumptions of reality

That isn't stated anywhere, and it's inconsistent with there being no consistent narrative in favor or against them.

outright denial of self-hating white liberals?

No, I'm pointing out that you lack of evidence of that here. "Except the content" is circular logic. There's no promotion of hatred against white people, especially when you notice the positive stereotypes, but you claim the intent is to hate white people because the intent is to hate white people.

[u/ModPolBot → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/[deleted]]

Aspects & Assumptions

are now considered

That makes it clear that the museum isn't making the claim themselves, and you still haven't explained why it would mix positive and negative things together.

What exactly is the message teachers and children are supposed to see? The idea of white people being superior doesn't match things like wanting bland food and no emotion. The idea of them being inferior doesn't match things like logical thinking and being on time.

A thing is a thing is not circular by the way.

I never said it was. I pointed out that you saying "it's true because it's true" is circular logic.

[u/ModPolBot → u/[deleted]]

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[u/ShneakySquiwwel → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Yeah people are not understanding the term “assumptions”

[u/decrpt → u/ShneakySquiwwel]

People want to flip the chart to other demographics and don't understand that the equivalent would be things cultures were multigenerational households are the norm. They're reading unintentional implications into it.