News came earlier this week that the new National Museum of African American History and Culture would include Bill Cosby in an exhibit on African-American entertainers in film, theater, and TV, but would make no mention of the dozens of rape allegations again him. However, founding director Lonnie Bunch, said Thursday that the Washington, D.C., museum will, in fact, include information about Cosby’s recent scandal in their “Taking the Stage” exhibit, alongside his accomplishments in television and comedy. Said Bunch in a statement, “This museum seeks to tell, in the words of the eminent historian John Hope Franklin, ‘the unvarnished truth’ that will help our visitors to remember and better understand what has often been erased and forgotten. Like all of history, our interpretation of Bill Cosby is a work in progress, something that will continue to evolve as new evidence and insights come to the fore. Visitors will leave the exhibition knowing more about Mr. Cosby’s impact on American entertainment, while recognizing that his legacy has been severely damaged by the recent accusations.” The museum opens September 24.
