The Black History 101 Mobile Museum visited Stony Brook University on February 27, offering students, faculty and staff the opportunity to engage with a collection of artifacts that tell the story of the African American experience.
Founded by Khalid el-Hakim, the museum features more than 7,000 original artifacts spanning from the trans-Atlantic slave trade to contemporary hip-hop culture. Covering themes such as slavery, politics, Jim Crow, science, religion, education, music, sports and civil rights, the museum presents a raw and unfiltered history that is often overlooked or misrepresented.
About 170 artifacts were on display in the Stony Brook Union Ballroom. While many were focused on hip-hop culture, the display also included artifacts and articles about lynchings, Ku Klux Klan events, advertisements, books and everyday items such as toothbrushes marketed toward Black consumers. The artifacts created an emotional connection that impacted those in attendance.
Victor Saadiq Muhammad, lead curator for the mobile museum, spoke at length with visitors and reflected on the importance of preserving and sharing this history. “It’s very calculated, and it’s moving in a direction where they are trying to just rewrite history,” he said. “Two generations from now, it’s possible no one will know about any of this history happening. They rewrite the story of how we built this country without acknowledging who helped, who suffered, and who fought for change.”
Saadiq Muhammad emphasized that ignorance, rather than outright malice, often perpetuates racism: “Racism only thrives on ignorance. And ignorance does not mean that someone is not intelligent. It means they ignore what they know is right or wrong. For the most part, there’s no communication between different races, religions, or social groups. When there’s no communication, misunderstandings and divisions grow.”
He shared a conversation he had with a young man who was struggling to understand the significance of historical injustices. “I asked him, ‘Do you think you benefited from your ancestors owning slaves?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ He admitted that while he wasn’t a strong student, he still had access to one of the best colleges. That’s the reality — we can’t separate the present from the past without acknowledging the structures that were built on inequality.”
Despite the museum’s commitment to education and awareness, it has faced challenges. Saadiq Muhammad spoke about instances where the museum’s appearances had been canceled due to political pressure. “We’ve been canceled several times. Just last year in Florida, Ron DeSantis threatened to take away funding from institutions that hosted us. But once the knowledge is out there, you can’t take it away. Once people learn the truth, they start asking questions, they start researching more, and that’s how we bridge the gap.”
He also touched on the role of social media in shaping modern discourse. While it has provided an avenue for information sharing, it has also contributed to polarization. “I use it to stay informed and communicate, but now it’s so extreme. People pick and choose what they want to see, and history gets replaced with propaganda. But that’s how revolutions start — by challenging misinformation and bringing the truth to light.”
Through its artifacts and discussions, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum challenged attendees to confront uncomfortable truths. “The majority of people want to hear the truth. Not to make anyone feel bad, but to understand. Because knowledge bridges the gap,” concluded Saadiq Muhammad.
The event was sponsored by Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement (DICE), Diversity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Initiatives (DI3) and Student Engagement and Activities, as part of a series of Black History Month initiatives.
— Beth Squire
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