A video from 2025 shows Anthea Hartig calling history a tool for social justice. This happened after some people said the Smithsonian was too focused on certain ideas.

Anthea Hartig defended the Smithsonian in July. But in 2025, she said the museum was taking a new approach to history, focusing on fairness and community.

Anthea Hartig said the US has a long and violent racial history. This history is still affecting us today.

She said we need to make things right, not just say sorry. This means taking action to fix past wrongs and make sure justice is served.

There is a timeline of the fight between the White House and the Smithsonian over how to tell American history.

Anthea Hartig and others testified before Congress in July. They talked about how the Smithsonian tells American history and if it is fair.

Anthea Hartig said the museum follows standards of scholarship and accuracy. It does not take sides in political debates, but rather shows the evidence of American life.

But in her 2025 talk, Anthea Hartig said history is a tool for social justice. This is different from what she said in Congress.

Anthea Hartig started her talk with a recognition of the land and a picture of a protest. She showed pictures of protests and signs that said complicated things about America.

She said the museum used to focus on being the best and most advanced country. But now it is moving away from that idea.

There was a fight over signs outside the Smithsonian Museum. The museum was accused of presenting a biased view of American history.

The Smithsonian is being criticized for its view of American history. This happened on the weekend of America's 250th birthday.

Anthea Hartig said the museum has a new vision to be more accessible and inclusive. It wants to serve all Americans, regardless of race, class, or gender.

The museum collected items from the Black Lives Matter movement. It wants to show the history of the movement and its impact.

Anthea Hartig showed pictures of protest signs and said they were powerful messages. She praised the signs for expressing heartfelt and poignant ideas.

Anthea Hartig also praised a group called Tsuru for Solidarity. It works to end detention sites and support immigrant communities.

Tsuru for Solidarity is a group that works for social justice. It says we should not repeat the mistakes of the past, like the US concentration camps during WWII.

There are former Democratic staffers and diversity leaders in the Smithsonian leadership. This is happening during a political fight over the museum's direction.

Activists burned a US flag at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. This was a sign of the strong feelings and protests at the time.

The museum is working on a plan to support language justice. It wants to make sure everyone can communicate in their own language.

Anthea Hartig said everyone has the right to speak in their own language. The museum is working to make its exhibits and signs bilingual or multilingual.

Since 2019, all museum exhibits and signs are in at least two languages. This is part of the museum's effort to be more inclusive.

Anthea Hartig said the museum is under attack for telling complicated truths. She urged students to speak out and tell their own stories.

She said history is the key to understanding humanity and our place in the world. It helps us make sense of love, power, and authority.

You can sign up for a newsletter to get the latest politics news.

Anthea Hartig said the museum's role is to tell stories and seek truths. It should be a place of empathy and defender of human rights.

You can download the Fox News app to get the latest news.

Fox News reached out to the Smithsonian and other groups for comment on the story.

Peter Pinedo is a writer for Fox News Digital.