On Sunday’s version of MSNBC’s The Weekend, a frequent MSNBC visitor, Fordham professor Christina Greer, unloaded:
“The historical past of the US is actually predicated on white supremacy, anti-black racism, patriarchy, and capitalism . . . Let’s be clear, our historical past is full of homicide. We’re a bellicose nation. It is full of rapes and exclusion.“
Greer made her feedback within the context of a dialogue condemning the Trump administration’s strikes to alter the prevailing, unfavorable, method of the Smithsonian to American historical past.
However Greer unwittingly made Trump’s case. If her extremely bleak depiction of America is what the museums needs to be embracing, then the Trump administration’s modifications are certainly wanted.
You may see at about 0:55 Greer shake her head in disgust in response to a press release made by Lindsey Halligan, a particular assistant to President Trump who’s main the evaluate of Smithsonian content material. Halligan known as slavery “a horrible side of our nation’s historical past,” however stated that we have to deal with the progress made since then, somewhat than on the dearth of progress. That was evidently insupportable for Greer.
To grasp American historical past, Greer beneficial studying the late Bell Hooks, a black, feminist, Marxist. No surprise Greer lumps “capitalism” with white supremacy and anti-black racism as among the many evils on which America was constructed! She is going to briefly acknowledge racial progress, however then shortly return to the perennial guilt journey and white-privilege slinging.
Be aware: Appears to be like like Greer may store for her eyewear on the identical place as Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino. However on this case, the Smithsonian museums should be rebranded since its 2020 BLM makeover.
This is the transcript.
MSNBC
The Weekend
8/24/25
8:39 am EDTJONATHAN CAPEHART: The Trump administration is growing its strain on Smithsonian museums, after President Donald Trump accused the establishment of focusing an excessive amount of on, quote, how unhealthy slavery was and never sufficient on the, quote, brightness of America.
Following the president’s criticism, the White Home known as out seven Smithsonian museums for his or her displays and messaging, together with the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition.
Lindsay Halligan, the White Home official main the administration’s evaluate of the Smithsonian, echoed President Trump’s sentiments in a Thursday interview on NewsMax.
LINDSEY HALLIGAN: Whereas slavery is clearly a horrible side of our nation’s historical past, you may’t actually discuss slavery actually except you additionally discuss hope and progress. And I believe we should be specializing in the progress that we have made since then. And we have to cease focusing a lot on the dearth of progress.
CAPEHART: I will let that marinate for a second. Becoming a member of us now, Christina Greer [seen shaking her head in apparent disgust at Halligan’s remark], affiliate professor of political science at Fordham College and creator of The way to Construct a Democracy, From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams.
Professor Greer, at all times nice to see you. I wish to play what President Trump stated on August 14th about his expectations of museums. Take heed to this.
DONALD TRUMP: Nicely, we would like the museums to deal with our nation pretty. We would like the museums to speak in regards to the historical past of our nation in a good method, not in a woke method or in a racist method, which is what lots of them, not all of them, however lots of them are doing.
. . .
CHRISTINA GREER: How can a rustic transfer ahead if we do not know our historical past, as a result of we’re doomed to repeat a few of the horrific errors of the previous. So, any historian or political scientist, or anybody who reads a e book is aware of that U.S. chattel slavery is without doubt one of the authentic sins of this nation, and that does not imply that the nation hasn’t progressed. We’re about to rejoice our 250th yr anniversary subsequent yr. Nevertheless, identical to Donald Trump and the labor statistics or any information that he does not like, he chooses to simply change it and make it in his personal picture.
You can’t try this with the historical past of the US, that’s actually predicated on white supremacy, anti-black racism, patriarchy, and capitalism. That is Bell Hooks who laid that out very clearly for all to learn . . . And it is so essential, not only for Individuals, however for folks across the globe, to know the true nature of this actually younger nation who’s such an ideal chief on this planet.
However let’s be clear, our historical past is full of homicide. We’re a bellicose nation. It is full of rapes and exclusion. We have come a really good distance, however we nonetheless have miles and miles to go earlier than we really dwell as much as the beliefs within the Declaration of Independence.
