Frustrations, fear of erasing history voiced after artifacts returned from African American history museum

By Catalina Pérez De Armiñán, NBC Washington

Several artifacts are being removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, according to the owners of the artifacts.

The removals come after the Trump administration issued an executive order to remove pieces of history from Smithsonian museums in D.C.

The owners of some historical objects inside the museum tell News4 their items are being wiped from the displays.

Some visitors were shocked to see some gone, saying they strategically planned their visits to be able to see the most artifacts in case some were removed.

Civil rights activist Rev. Amos Brown says he was recently notified two of the artifacts he loaned to the museum would be returned back to him.

He described one of the books written by Rev. George Washington Williams in 1880 as a “precious and most historic book” and the “first history of the Negro race.”

The other book was a Bible he took to demonstrations with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson.

Brown said he lent the artifacts to the Smithsonian in 2016. He said the museum always gave him the option of donating the books permanently or renewing the loan, but this time he wasn’t asked.

“It is downright dishonest and it is demeaning,” Brown said. “I hope people of good will, of conscience and common sense will rise up and say ‘we need to stop this’.”

Jeff Anderson, a tourist from Louisiana, hoped to see the museum before any changes were made.

“It’s a shame that fear of black people finding out their history has caused that kind of thing, you know,” Anderson said.

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