'We stay the course.' Minnesota historians react to the push to patriotize history

Last March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”

It mandated a shift in how American history is portrayed in federal institutions, with a goal of eliminating “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology.”

Instead, according to the executive order, the focus should be on a more “patriotic” narrative. And to ensure that happens, funding was cut for anything that “degrades shared American values” or “divides Americans by race.”

This order applied largely to federal institutions, like the Smithsonian museums and the National Parks System.

But here in Minnesota, the funding restrictions and shifts in ideology were felt immediately. History museum directors and curators — the people who collect and keep Minnesota history — were alarmed at what might be coming their way.

So what happened? Were their fears realized?

North Star Journey Live went to Mankato to find out. At the annual conference for the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, Angela Davis hosted a live discussion to talk about the ramifications of the federal order in Minnesota.

Guests:

• Jessica Potter, executive director of the Blue Earth County Historical Society
• Dave Nichols, executive director of the Rice County Historical Society
• Mai Vang Huizel, founder and director of the Hmong Museum
• Kyle Ward, director of the social studies education program at Minnesota State University Mankato

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