The National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) is facing a significant challenge. Established in late 2020, nearly 30 years after it was first proposed, the Smithsonian component must represent the art, history, and culture of a diverse population of 64 million Latinx Americans, with roots in more than 30 countries across North and Latin America and the Caribbean. Each of these communities, from Tejanos in Texas to Cubans in Miami and Puerto Ricans in New York, has vastly different histories, identities, and political orientations. Jorge Zamanillo, the founding director of the museum, acknowledges the difficulty of this task.
Zamanillo, the son of Cuban immigrants who fled to the US after the 1959 revolution, sees the museum as a way to bridge communities across the US and overcome divides. He emphasizes the importance of creating a space for dialogue and engagement to gain a better understanding of the total population.
NMAL has made progress under Zamanillo’s leadership, including building a core team, establishing a well-connected board, and raising funds. The museum has launched a listening program to gather input from communities nationwide and unveiled a new strategic plan, brand, and logo. Despite these achievements, challenges remain due to controversy surrounding the institution.
In 2022, NMAL opened its first exhibition, „¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States,“ which attracted a large audience but also faced criticism from some right-wing Latinx critics. Zamanillo has made decisions regarding future exhibitions, canceling a planned exhibition on Latinx youth movements in favor of a new exhibition on the roots and influence of salsa music. This exhibition is set to open in spring 2026 as part of the Smithsonian’s commemoration of the US’s 250th anniversary. The goal is for the exhibition on salsa to appeal to a wide audience and avoid political divisions among the various communities within the nation’s Latinx population.
NMAL’s associate director of content and interpretation, Tey Marianna Nunn, explained that „Puro Ritmo“ aims to showcase one of the most popular aspects of Latinx culture while highlighting its rich history from its origins to modern times. Nunn emphasized the celebration of the cultural diversity of Latinx Americans through the exhibition.
Nunn mentioned that collecting Latino histories and art is currently a popular trend in museums, with many institutions hiring Latino curators. NMAL’s focus is not just on representation but on celebrating a national story. While other institutions like NHCC, Museo del Barrio, and others focus on specific diasporic communities, NMAL intends to bring these threads together to fill a wider gap.
Prominent Afro-Latinx curator Maria Elena Ortiz commended the critical work done by institutions like NMAL in exploring Latinx culture. She highlighted the importance of an organization that can encompass various Latinx experiences, including Chicanos, Tejanos, border-crossers, new immigrants, and others. Ortiz suggested that NMAL’s goal should include an intersection of narratives from different Latinx stories.
NMAL’s aim to represent the diversity of the Latinx experience may require mending fences, as issues arose during the exhibition on Latinx youth movements. The sudden cancellation of the exhibition led to trust issues among some members of the community. Felipe Hinojosa, a professor and member of the exhibition’s curatorial team, expressed concern about the impact of political pressure on the museum’s direction.
Despite challenges, Hinojosa remains committed to NMAL’s mission and believes in the importance of telling the Latino story. He emphasized the need for transparency and inclusivity in decision-making processes to navigate potential turbulence in the future.
Overall, the focus is on telling a story of American democracy in action through the exhibition, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of young people fighting for their rights. The team behind the movement exhibit aimed to showcase a story with broad appeal that reflects the values of American democracy. However, communication challenges and funding issues led to the exhibition’s cancellation without clear explanations from NMAL’s leadership. Alles, was wir bekamen, war Lonnie, der nicht auf die Frauen reagierte“, sagte er, was das Ausstellungsteam dazu zwang, Schadensbegrenzung zu betreiben und sich bei den Aktivisten, Organisatoren, Archivaren und Kuratoren zu entschuldigen, die bereits beigetragen hatten.