The Smithsonian will open its new museum dedicated to African Americans in September, but it won't come without some controversy. The National Museum of African American History and Culture plans to include Bill Cosby in its exhibits without mentioning the multiple sexual assault allegations against him.
The museum will feature Cosby's 1964 comedy record "I Started Out as a Child," a comic book from his TV series, "I Spy," and video clips from "I Spy" and "The Cosby Show." The latter is described as "one of the best-loved American TV shows" by accompanying text. The 78-year-old comedian's inclusion in the museum was never a debate among its curators given his contributions to entertainment and television.
"It is hard to identify anyone who had a stronger impact on the representation of African-Americans on television in the 20th century," said Kathleen M. Kendrick, the curator of the exhibition "Taking the Stage."
The Smithsonian Institute has already dealt with the controversy surrounding Cosby. Last year, the National Museum of African Art placed a disclaimer in front an exhibit featuring art from the private collection of Cosby and his wife, Camille.
In part it said that the allegations against Cosby, which were made public shortly before the exhibition opened in November 2014, "cast a negative light on what should be a joyful exploration of African and African American art in this gallery."
The museum also issued a statement on its website that added, "The National Museum of African Art in no way condones Mr. Cosby's behavior. We continue to present Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue because it is fundamentally about the artworks and the artists who created them, not Mr. Cosby."
The National Museum of African American History and Culture will occupy the last remaining space on the National Mall, next to the National Museum of American History and across the street from the Washington Monument. The Tanzanian-born architect David Adjaye designed the building, which will house a "historical journey" for its visitors to pass through.
Guests will start their journey at the bottom of the museum in an exhibit called "Slavery and Freedom," which chronicles African-American history from the earliest days of Africans arrival to America to the Reconstruction Era. They will then ascend to the exhibit, "Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: Era of Segregation 1876-1968.
The journey wraps up with "A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond," which examines the recent issues surrounding race as well as Barack Obama's presidency. Other exhibits in the museum will also showcase African-Americans' contributions to sports, entertainment and the military.
