
Smithsonian Chief: History as a 'Prime Tool of Social Justice' Sparks Tension
A resurfaced February 2025 UCLA talk by Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig describes history as a 'prime tool of social justice,' a stance that appears to contradict her July Capitol Hill testimony asserting Smithsonian objectivity; the piece notes her praise for Black Lives Matter, multilingual access, and restorative-justice aims, and frames the remarks amid ongoing partisan scrutiny of perceived woke influence at the Smithsonian.











