The Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) released a statement regarding President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to remove “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from Smithsonian museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. President Trump entitled the executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
Many people believe that the executive order was an attempt to erase the past and suppress conversations about social justice and systemic racism. Trump’s takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has raised concerns that, in typical authoritarian fashion, he is trying to control the past in order to control the future. The majority of the Smithsonian’s funds come from the federal government.
The statement from the National Pan-Hellenic Council:
The Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council® (NPHC°), representing the nine historically Black Greek-lettered organizations and more than 2.5 million members worldwide, strongly opposes any attempt to censor, distort, or dismantle the telling of America’s full and inclusive history. Efforts to withhold funding from the Smithsonian complex, especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture, threaten not only a vital educational resource but also the very integrity of our national narrative.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture serves as a cornerstone in the preservation and celebration of African American history and culture. This history is American history. From slavery to civil rights to the cultural innovations that continue to shape the world, the museum ensures these stories are not forgotten, denied, or politicized.
NPHC® also commends the outstanding leadership of Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. As the founding director of the museum and the first African American Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Secretary Bunch has championed the power of historical truth to unite, educate, and heal. His dedication to scholarship, accessibility, and equity has elevated the Smithsonian mission and broadened its relevance to all Americans.
The NPHC® was founded on May 10, 1930, at Howard University in Washington, DC. The purpose of the NPHC® is to foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern. Thus, NPHC® promotes the well-being of its affiliate fraternities and sororities, facilitates the establishment and development of local councils of the NPHC®, which collaboratively work together across the United States, and provides leadership training for its constituents. We believe that knowledge uplifts communities, empowers individuals, and strengthens democracy. Secretary Bunch continues in that tradition and reminds us that museums are not merely repositories of the past. They are tools for building a better future.
The NPHC® calls on policymakers, educators, and citizens across the country to reject false narratives that seek to divide us. We must support institutions that honor our collective past and protect our shared future. The National Museum of African American History and Culture plays a vital role in that mission, and we will continue to advocate for its preservation and advancement.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is currently composed of nine organizations, also known as the Divine Nine (D9): Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
