CAA News Today

CAA has signed on to the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) statement in opposition to the White House directive forcing Smithsonian Institution museums to subject their presentation of American history to government review to promote “American exceptionalism,” remove “divisive” narratives, and present “uplifting portrayals of American heritage” (Executive Order 14253).

“The historical materials at the Smithsonian Institution museums are intended to paint a full and accurate picture of the American experience; by forcing them to edit their exhibits at the administration’s command, the White House is engaging in authoritarian censorship. It is taking another step toward divesting in professional expertise and dismantling principles of academic freedom… he genuinely patriotic thing we can all do in this moment is to speak out on behalf of the scholars who have dedicated their lives to helping us understand our nation, and for the right of all Americans to learn about our history and culture free from government intrusion.” 

CAA remains steadfastly committed to advocating for academic freedom, fighting censorship, and promoting historical narratives and perspectives regardless of whether they are comfortable or convenient. Learning from the more difficult moments of our past is crucial for an inclusive future in which our more troubling mistakes are not repeated.

Read the full ACLS statement here.  

OTHER LEARNED SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS WHO HAVE SIGNED ON TO THIS STATEMENT 

African Studies Association
American Academy of Religion
American Anthropological Association
American Association for Italian Studies
American Association of Geographers
American Folklore Society
American Historical Association
American Philosophical Association
American Political Science Association
American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
American Society for Environmental History
American Society for Theatre Research
American Society of Church History
American Studies Association
Asian American Studies
Association for Asian American Studies
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Association of University Presses
Bibliographical Society of America
German Studies Association
Linguistic Society of America
Medieval Academy of America
National Council on Public History
North American Conference on British Studies
North American Victorian Studies Association
Oral History Association
Organization of American Historians