SUBMIT

Congress Passes Legislation To Create National Latinx Museum And National Women’s History Museum

wp content/uploads///_bbb_k
Source: Flickr

Photo by verifex

By

Feb. 12 2021, Published 3:45 a.m. ET

Share to XShare to FacebookShare via EmailShare to LinkedIn

While the world has homed in on the COVID-19 relief part of the recent bill that passed, some other significant moments in history have been made here. Congress also passed legislation to create a National Latino Museum and, separately, a National Women’s Museum. Both museums will be a part of the Smithsonian’s collection of museums on the National Mall.

The National Museum Of The American Latino

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who co-sponsored the measure with Republican Senator John Cornyn, notes, “We have overcome tremendous obstacles and unbelievable hurdles to get to this historic moment, but as I’ve said before, Latinos are used to overcoming obstacles.”

The museum is slated to celebrate the significant contributions that Latinx people have made to this country. “Latinos have contributed significantly to the success of the United States while overcoming systemic discrimination,” said Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “Now, our stories will have a new home with a Latino Museum on the National Mall.”

America is home to approximately 60 million Latinx, people, making up 18.5 percent of the U.S. population and the country’s second-largest non-White group people group. The Smithsonian reported in 1994 that a pattern of “willful neglect” has plagued the contributions of Latinx people to the United States.

The U.S. is home to about 60 million Latinos, 18.5 percent of the U.S. population. They are the country’s second-largest ethnic minority group. A 1994 Smithsonian report found a pattern of “willful neglect” about U.S. Latinos’ history and their contributions.

Article continues below advertisement

Menendez adds that “As a first-generation Cuban American, I know what it’s like to feel invisible in a nation where Latinos are seldom celebrated. I am enormously proud of my role in getting this legislation over the finish line and cannot wait until the day when I can take my granddaughters to visit the National Museum of the American Latino in our nation’s capital.”

The House and Senate approved the bill which is moving forward now, though, slowly, of course, due to the pandemic.

museums
Article continues below advertisement

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

Upon entrance of most museums in the United States, you’ll find women relegated to a single, small section of the museum at worst or only a few mingled in with the men featured in history museums. The depictions of women in history in the United States have been deeply lacking. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a strong forerunner for the bill to create this museum, notes on her website, “A national museum dedicated to recounting this history will show not only our country but the world, that the U.S. values and appreciates women and what they have done to help build this great country. It will serve to inspire men and women of all ages who come from around the world to visit the great museums of our nation’s capital.”

Currently, there is no comprehensive museum in the United States that has been dedicated to the history of women in the nation, textbooks underrepresent women across the nation, only 9% of statues in Washington D.C. depict women and only 5% of the approximate 2,400 national monuments in the country honor women.

Maloney began the process of leading the efforts for this museum in 1998 and finally saw her hard work passed into law recently. Maloney stated the week before the vote, “For too long, women’s stories have been left out of the telling of our nation’s history, but with this vote, we begin to rectify that.”

Ambition Delivered.

Our weekly email newsletter is packed with stories that inspire, empower, and inform, all written by women for women. Sign up today and start your week off right with the insights and inspiration you need to succeed.

Advertisement
ritapikeheadshot-scaled-1641918950462.jpg
By: Rita Pike

Rita Juanita Pike is the granddaughter of Jerrie Mock, the first woman to pilot an airplane around the world. Rita has taken inspiration from her grandmother’s life and flight and pursued many of her own dreams in theater, podcasting, and novel writing. She now writes about travel, pets, faith, and the arts. She’s happily married to Matt, and faithfully serves a very fluffy kitten queen, Lady Stardust.

Latest The Main Agenda News and Updates

    Link to InstagramLink to FacebookLink to XLinkedIn IconContact us by Email
    HerAgenda

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    Black OwnedFemale Founder