IN PICTURES: Historic Smithsonian museum packed with woke political messaging on race and gender
As the Smithsonian Institution continues to face scrutiny over its leftward drift, a Fox News Digital tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History revealed exhibits that present the nation's past through the lens of oppression of minority groups.
Perhaps nowhere in the museum was that more apparent than the popular Entertainment Nation Exhibit. The series of installations, focused mainly on sports, television and music, is a ubiquitous hotbed of woke history.
One display focuses on the 2010 "Los Suns" protest, which features a special basketball jersey worn by a Phoenix Suns player during the protest.
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"In solidarity with the Latinx community, the Phoenix Suns basketball team challenged Arizona’s new immigration law on the court," says the headline of a placard explaining the display.
"In 2010 Arizona empowered police to question anyone on their immigration status, in effect targeting any Spanish-speaking person with brown skin," the placard says, adding that the professional team described the state's new law as a violation of "our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law."
A mannequin head displays the hijab worn by the first Muslim woman to win a major ice skating competition while wearing the religious head covering.
Another display links a 2014 "X-Men" movie to the Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked during the summer of that year.
"As #BlackLivesMatter went viral in the summer of 2014, one of the first Black woman superheroes was fighting discrimination on the big screen," says the headline on the placard for that display.
The writing describes the main characters in the fantasy the film faced discrimination for "being different," Halle Berry was the lead actress in the film, and her costume is featured in the museum.
The exhibit also pays homage to the massively successful mid-2010's show "Glee," which ran for eight seasons. Its placard says the show "celebrated the arts, and, most importantly, humanity."
"The television series Glee told the story of a fictional high school glee club comprised of a diverse group of students: Black, white, Asian, straight, LGBTQ+, disabled, brassy, rebellious, shy, and geeky. Even as they grappled with navigating interpersonal conflicts and developing their identities as young adults, they came together to support each other and sing as one—exemplifying the motto on a plaque in their school auditorium: 'See the world not as it is, but as it should be,'" says the placard.
Another exhibit display, focused on the 1960s and 70s, mentions NBA legend Bill Russell's greatness on the court, but rather than solely highlight his accomplishments in sports, the placard focuses on his racial activism.
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"Bill Russell was a defensive powerhouse on the court who played offense against racism," the title says.
"Bill Russell redefined defensive play, blocking shots and capturing rebounds. The five-time MVP led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships as he championed civil rights," says the placard. "In 1961 Russell led Black teammates in a protest against racial discrimination, staging the first NBA game boycott."
Yet another display features a massive gold chain, a crew neck sweatshirt and a notepad with handwritten song lyrics belonging to rapper Nipsey Hussle, a proud Rollin' 60s Crip gang affiliate who rapped about violence and drugs. His real name was Ermias Asghedom.
"Nipsey Hussle’s political ethos was as strong as his rap," the placard says.
"Raised in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, Grammy Award-winning rapper Nipsey Hussle made his mark through music, activism, and business savvy," it continues.
"As an artist, Hussle’s lyrics painted vivid pictures of West Coast life filled with insights well beyond his years. As an activist, he mentored and inspired a generation to become politically engaged. And as an entrepreneur, he chose to reinvest millions into the streets that raised him. Despite his untimely passing, his spirit of dedication, self-reliance, and community empowerment continues to resonate."
The nondescript "untimely passing" refers to the rapper's murder after he confronted a Rollin' 60s gang member, Eric Holder Jr., and accused of "snitching" to law enforcement. An enraged Holder produced a handgun, shooting and killing Asghedom and wounding several others.
Also on display are a jersey worn by the first active and openly gay NBA player, Jason Collins, the hat worn by Dr. Anthony Fauci when he threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals game when the team league restarted after COVID-19 shutdowns and a skateboard highlighting the struggles of female skateboarders to break into the male-dominated sport.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Smithsonian for comment.