A video was posted to the social media platform X that features Texas Representative Brandon Gill asking the Smithsonian’s American History Museum’s Director if she is promoting white supremacy. The question was asked in connection with the Mass Action Toolkit that some museums use to dismantle systemic oppression and reinforce community-building.
While some commenters noted that the Director stayed quiet and wrote down notes while the Representative was speaking, others thought that the question that was asked of her was “incredibly stupid.”
The video features Representative Brandon Gill speaking with Director Hartig about the MASS Action Toolkit. In the video, his question to her is, “Are you promoting a white supremacy culture at the Smithsonian?” Instead of responding, Hartig takes a moment to write something down in silence, to which Gill then asks, “Ma’am, is this a difficult question?“
She then responds with, “No, sir. I’m just thinking about the MASS Action Toolkit,” though this is where Representative Gill cuts the video, making it unclear what she was going to say next. The caption for the video itseld reads, “So I asked the Director if she’s promoting white supremacy. She froze, grabbed her notepad, and started writing.“
The MASS Action Toolkit was published in 2017 and features eight chapters on the theories of change and inclusion and how to put that into practice via various worksheets. This particular version of the toolkit was procured from the Incluseum website.
Concerning Gill’s question, the Toolkit does name white supremacy culture and its characteristics, even going so far as to say, “objectivity is a characteristic of a white supremacy culture. This encompasses repressing emotions in decision-making or group processes, thinking in a linear fashion, impatience with those who do not exhibit linear thinking or with thinking that does not appear logical.”
However, there is no verbiage that implies that museums who utilize this toolkit are promoting the term or culture of white supremacy.
Comments and Reactions Towards Texas Rep’s Odd Question
Various commenters shared their opinions about the video in the replies below, with a majority disagreeing with the line of questioning as a whole. One person even wrote, “She “froze” because it was an incredibly stupid question.”
Others felt that the Director was withholding information by not responding, with another person writing, “Congress really needs to start holding people in contempt for refusing to answer the questions actually asked. Just showing us the idiots isn’t enough.“
The video is continuing to be viewed by X users across the country, and viewers are still leaving their opinions and frustrations in the comments below.
