The premiere Black history traveling exhibit in America is coming to Lamar University, Feb. 15.
The Office of Global Diversity and Inclusive Excellence and the Cardinal Activities Board are partnering to bring the Black History 101 mobile Museum to Lamar University.
The Black History 101 Mobile Museum is an award-winning collection of more than 10,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to hip-hop culture.
“The purpose of this exhibit is to offer the campus community a visual representation of what Black history looks like and spark deeper conversations in the classrooms and beyond,” said Dr. Wilma Jackson, director for Global Diversity and Inclusive Excellence.
Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, the museum’s founder and curator, has been called the “Schomberg of the Hip Hop Generation.” He has reached thousands across America with the truth about Black history in America through exhibits centered around various themes including slavery, hip hop, Civil Rights, Motown, Michael Jackson and more.
The mobile exhibit includes some rare artifacts representing categories including (but not limited to) slavery, politics, Jim Crow, science, religion, education, music, sports and civil rights. Some of the highlights of the collection are documents signed by Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Mary Mcleod Bethune, W.E.B. Dubois, Paul Robeson, Rosa Parks, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington Carver, Lena Horne, Carter G. Woodson, Angela Davis and many other historical icons.
During the past 20 years, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum has visited 40 states sharing "our story" at more than 500 institutions reaching tens of thousands of visitors in diverse spaces including colleges, K-12 schools, corporations, conferences, libraries, museums, festivals, religious institutions and cultural events.
The mobile museum will be on display in the Setzer Student Center from noon until 5 p.m. Mon. Feb. 15. el-Hakim will make a presentation at 4 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center Live Oak Ballroom. All students, staff, faculty and administrators are encouraged to attend and be part of this exceptional opportunity to hear a truthful testimony of past events and see actual artifacts from American history.
“We’ve never had anything like this at Lamar University, but we’re thrilled to expose the LU community to such an enlightening exhibit,” said Jackson. “We hope everyone who participates has a better appreciation of Black history and culture and the contributions of Black Americans.”