Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, a native of Detroit, made a promise to himself that he would one day give back to his community.
He kept his promise by opening the .
鈥淭he Black History 101 Mobile Museum was born out of the pledge I made to give back to the community, sparked by my participation in the ,鈥 says, el-Hakim.
The museum is a traveling exhibit of African American history and culture. Initially, el-Hakim began with a personal collection inside of his apartment.听After the听Million Man March, he decided it was time for a change and began sharing his collection at gatherings of grassroots community organization meetings.
I had positive听feedback after those meetings, recalls el-Hakim.
As a result, requests came in听to display the collection at various听venues, including churches and cultural events. His initial goals were exceeded as the museum evolved into a powerful tool to educate and raise听awareness听for Black history.
You can鈥檛 help but notice the unique collection of artifacts, including photographs, documents, books, and other items, that represent the Black听experience in America as you look around his museum.
The museum is home to a special archive of historical artifacts, including documents signed by prominent figures such as,听Booker T. Washington, Mary McCloud Bethune, Dr. George Washington Carver, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Fredrick Douglass, and Marcus Garvey, among others.
Some of the other items in the collection are an original lithograph of Timbuctoo, a bill of the sale of Africans into slavery, documents from the Jim Crow era, as well as more current documents on hip-hop culture and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Throughout the years, el-Hakim has acquired a significant portion of the materials for the Black History 101 Mobile Museum from various sources such as antique shops, garage sales, estate sales, record stores, and used bookstores.
Recently, he was able to acquire some valuable hip hop memorabilia from the Sotheby鈥檚 auction of DJ Kool Herc鈥檚 collection in New York, including several outfits, jackets, sunglasses, belt buckles, and original flyers.
鈥淚 have been dedicatedly curating my collection for over 30 years and have been displaying it in public spaces in Detroit since 1996,鈥 he says. 鈥淚n 2006, I expanded my reach and took the exhibit on a national tour.鈥
el-Hakim was raised on Snowden on the northwest side of Detroit and graduated from Mumford High School in 1988. He later earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Ferris State University.
鈥淢y career in education began with teaching positions at the Detroit Job Corps and Detroit Public Schools (Nolan Middle School and Detroit Lions Academy), spanning a total of 15 years,鈥 he explains. 鈥淚n addition to teaching, I was actively involved in the hip hop and poetry communities, working as a promoter, booking agent, and manager. In 2011, I made the decision to leave the classroom to fully commit to the Black History 101 Mobile Museum and further my education by pursuing graduate studies at Western Michigan University for a master鈥檚 degree and the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana for a Ph.D.鈥
Currently, el-Hakhim and his team are on tour as they prepare to showcase more than 150 artifacts during Black History Month. While giving the tour, he and his crew are there to greet guests and answer any questions they may have as they look听around the exhibit. He also provides a one-hour lecture, to provide more in-depth information about the items on display.
鈥淢aking the Black History 101 Mobile Museum 鈥榤obile鈥 is important because it allows the exhibit to reach a wider audience and brings the history and culture of the Black experience to communities that might not otherwise have access to such resources,鈥 he says. 鈥淏y traveling to different locations, the museum can reach people in both urban and rural areas, as well as people of all ages and backgrounds.鈥
He says his mission was to expand the audience of his museum so that a more diverse group听of people听may learn听and engage with the historical and cultural materials听of the Black experience.
鈥淭he most fulfilling aspect of working with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum is witnessing the impact it has on its visitors,鈥 he explains. 鈥淪eeing their reactions and listening to the conversations they have while engaging with the artifacts on display is truly profound and moving.鈥
He adds: I am constantly in awe of the way in which a single artifact can evoke personal stories and emotions from so many individuals. Through this experience, I have come to understand that honest and ongoing dialogue is a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and dismantling ignorance. It allows for deeper understanding and empathy towards others, opening opportunities for mutual respect and unity.
The Black History 101 Mobile Museum is making a stop in Detroit at Frontier International Academy on Feb. 7, 2023. It is also stopping in Canton this May and June. For more information on the Black History 101 Museum, including a full list of tour dates, visit听.
Artifacts from the Black History 101 Mobile Museum
Flip through photos of some of the artifacts, photographs, documents, and other items on display at the Black History 101 Mobile Museum.
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