Smithsonian Museum Settles Lawsuit Over Alleged Pro-Latino Bias in Internship Program

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino is ensuring equal opportunity for all students applying to its undergraduate internship program, regardless of ethnicity.

Settlement Agreement

In a settlement agreement filed recently, the Smithsonian has addressed allegations of "pro-Latino discrimination." The museum has agreed to modify its internship application by including a statement indicating that the program is open to students of all races and ethnicities. Furthermore, it stipulates that no preference or restrictions based on race or ethnicity should be applied in the selection process.

Lawsuit and Response

The lawsuit, filed in February by Edward Blum’s American Alliance for Equal Rights, claimed that the internship favored Latino students, thereby infringing upon the Constitution’s equal protection clause. In response to this, Blum stated, “Every student who is interested in this area of museum studies should have the opportunity to compete for an internship without their race being a factor.” He also emphasized the need to eliminate racially exclusive programs and policies across various sectors.

Smithsonian’s Position

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas declined to provide additional comments, stating that the settlement speaks for itself. The museum, in court documents, affirmed that race has never been a factor in its internship application review process.

Scrutiny of Federal Diversity Efforts

The scrutiny of federal diversity efforts has intensified in recent times, notably following a ruling by the Supreme Court that affected race-conscious college admissions. In addition, a federal judge in Texas made a similar ruling regarding the services offered by the Minority Business Development Agency.

Last year, the Small Business Administration was also compelled to revamp its program for minority contractors after a court decision in Tennessee. More recently, the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion, established in 2020 to create a workforce representative of the nation’s demographics, was dissolved as part of the government spending bill signed into law on a specific date.