Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 6: The United States must acknowledge and learn from its full history—including its most painful chapters—if it is to realise the ideals on which it was founded, Lonnie Bunch said as the country commemorated the 250th anniversary of its independence.
Speaking during a special edition of NBC's Meet the Press marking the milestone, Bunch said the American experiment has always been about striving toward a "more perfect union" rather than achieving perfection.
"The promise of America is something we continue to pursue," he said, adding that the nation's founding vision remains an ongoing journey shaped by the efforts of successive generations.
Bunch argued that one of America's greatest strengths lies in confronting its past instead of attempting to erase or ignore it.
He said understanding history is essential to recognising how the country's past continues to influence its present and future, stressing that honest engagement with history strengthens democracy rather than weakens it.
The first Black Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution also reflected on his own family's remarkable journey from slavery to leadership within one of the world's foremost museum and research organisations.
Recalling his grandfather's life, Bunch said he grew up as a sharecropper in North Carolina, spent a decade earning a college education before studying dentistry at Howard University, and went on to practise as a dentist for more than 50 years.
Asked how his grandfather might view his accomplishments, Bunch said he believed he would be proud of a country where someone descended from enslaved people could one day lead the Smithsonian.
He also spoke about the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, explaining that he wanted it to tell not only the story of African Americans but also the broader story of the United States.
According to Bunch, one of the museum's most significant achievements was a nationwide campaign encouraging families to donate treasured historical objects preserved in their homes. The initiative resulted in the collection of around 40,000 artefacts, with nearly 70 per cent sourced from personal collections stored in basements, attics and family trunks.
He said the willingness of people to entrust the museum with their heirlooms reflected the deep responsibility involved in preserving a community's heritage and collective memory.
Addressing the country's political divisions, Bunch emphasised the role museums can play in fostering dialogue by encouraging people to engage with complexity rather than seeking simple answers.
He described the Smithsonian as an institution capable of helping unite the nation by presenting multiple perspectives, encouraging debate and promoting a deeper understanding of history.
Bunch added that a society willing to accept ambiguity and differing interpretations of its past is better equipped to move forward and strengthen its democratic values.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education and research complex, comprising 21 museums, the National Zoo and numerous research centres dedicated to preserving and showcasing America's history, science, culture and innovation.