Natalie Winters@nataliegwinters · Sep 11, 2026

🚨 What the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History is teaching kids about 9/11 is disgusting. It centers on “victims…

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Summary

Critics argue that the Smithsonian's Museum of American History 9/11 curriculum inappropriately centers Islamophobia as the main narrative, uses CAIR materials, criticizes anti-Sharia laws, and features prominent Muslim activists, raising concerns about the educational framing and sources.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

#1
🚨 What the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History is teaching kids about 9/11 is disgusting. It centers on “victims of Islamophobia,” uses material from CAIR, and says anti-Sharia laws are “disturbing.” Linda Sarsour and Rashida Tlaib are even praised ⬇️🧵
#2
The lesson, “Targeted at Home,” says students should: “develop empathic attitudes toward the victims of Islamophobia” Students are asked to identify stereotypes about Muslims, examine their harm, and learn to “debunk stereotypes.”
#3
The Smithsonian explicitly uses CAIR’s definition of Islamophobia: “a closed-minded hatred, fear or prejudice toward Islam and Muslims that results in discrimination, marginalization and oppression.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave CAIR a state-level terrorist designation in November 2025.
#4
Students are asked how “national identity, security, and patriotism” have been used in the “targeting and ‘othering’” of Americans from particular identity groups. Another question asks about the impact of: “xenophobia, forced migration, and deportation”
#5
The selected article “What Is the Truth About American Muslims?” criticizes: “an anti-Muslim movement in America has pushed for anti-Shariah laws in some 23 states” It then calls anti-Muslim rhetoric “poisonous” and “Even more disturbing.” The article later calls for countering “dangerous and often vicious propaganda” about American Muslims.
#6
The selected Vox reading opens: “September 11, 2001 is widely understood as a marker of deepening Islamophobia in America.” One featured interview is headed: “Political racism toward Arabs was written before 9/11.” Its subtitle promises to show “the deep impact of Islamophobia.”
#7
The oral-history material also features Rashida Tlaib being interviewed by Linda Sarsour. The description says they discuss “anti-Arab backlash after 9/11” and how it influenced Tlaib’s “decision to get involved in politics.”
#8
UPF credits Daniel Tutt as a producer of the selected film “American Muslims: Facts vs. Fiction.” His separate writing describes: “two Marxist theoretical models for thinking Islamophobia and racism” A 2015 political-theory essay also discusses: “proper ways of establishing the caliphate.”