A group of Black Republicans are pressing the National Museum of African American History to properly ‘honor’ Clarence Thomas
A group of Black Republicans desires a Smithsonian museum to higher mirror the legacy of Clarence Thomas.
The push was led by freshman GOP Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida.
“Black History transcends political correctness and partisanship,” Donalds wrote.
A group of Black Republicans, led by freshman GOP Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, have requested the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to “honor” Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas by updating an exhibit that they are saying presently “falls short” in reflecting his legacy.
The letter was reported by Fox News and likewise signed by figures together with Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole Black Republican in the higher chamber, together with Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah and Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James, amongst others.
“This museum is a national treasure for our nation’s fabric – this is especially true for me as a Black American and Republican,” Donalds wrote. “Black History transcends political correctness and partisanship. Overall, the NMAAHC honors its mission, but it is unfortunate to see pitfalls likely driven by irresponsible bias.”
The museum, which opened in September 2016 and has a everlasting assortment of over 36,000 artifacts, is a Smithsonian Institution museum.
Thomas, an affiliate justice of the Supreme Court, was nominated for the place by then-President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to change the retiring authorized trailblazer Thurgood Marshall, who was the first Black American to serve on the Supreme Court.
When the museum first opened, Thomas was largely talked about solely in reference to the contentious 1991 affirmation battle that concerned allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill, a former Thomas staffer.
Thomas strongly denied the allegations and described his affirmation course of as “a high-tech lynching.”
He was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a slim 52-48 margin.
In 2017, a more substantive exhibit about Thomas was introduced at the museum, however a number of conservatives, together with insist it’s inadequate. Donalds mentioned the tribute to Thomas paled as compared to that of Marshall.
“As a Black man who has a profound respect for the contributions Justice Thomas has propitiated for generations to come, this museum must encapsulate his life as it does for hundreds of other monumental Black figures,” Donalds wrote, including that the museum presently would not mirror his “achievements and life compared to his counterpart, the Honorable Justice Thurgood Marshall.”
Donalds additionally mentioned “Black history cannot and should not be political,” and urged the museum to provide an “unbiased assessment” of Black historic figures.
“The American people deserve an unbiased assessment of the trailblazers in the Black community – it is time to honor Justice Thomas with this long-overdue documentation of his whole life and history and not the disingenuous effort displayed today,” Donalds wrote.
Owens echoed an analogous sentiment about the Thomas exhibit to Fox News.
“As one of the only two Black men to serve on our nation’s highest and most distinguished court, US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas deserves unbiased recognition from the National Museum of African American History and Culture,” he instructed the outlet, including the museum ought to “appropriately honor the continued legacy of Justice Thomas.”
The museum released a statement to Artnet News relating to the matter.
“While all our exhibitions are based on rigorous research, they are still open to interpretation,” the assertion reads. “Through scholarship, publications, and education, the museum will continue to explore the rich contributions and complexity of African Americans.”
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