A Black history exhibition had its invitation rescinded by Texas State University due to the “current climate” within the state and “certain topics covered as part of the museum,” according to university officials. TSU previously listed an anti-DEI law as part of the reasons why the exhibit wasn’t approved, but officials later said the law did not affect their decision.

What is the Black History 101 Mobile Museum?

The Black History 101 Mobile Museum was founded and curated by Khalid el-Hakim, a former middle school teacher who wanted to remedy what he saw as a lack of Black history in K-12 textbooks and curriculum. The traveling exhibition, which has existed for 30 years, aims to teach lesser-known Black history from Ancient Egypt to today. El-Hakim has collected over 15,000 artifacts as part of the exhibition, which range from shackles from U.S. slavery times to dolls and Egyptian artifacts.

The museum has traveled to over 1,000 institutions, including elementary schools, universities and corporations across 43 states. It’s the first time the exhibition was disinvited from an institution, el-Hakim told The Austin American-Statesman.

“These are now considered things that make people feel uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, it’s nothing but American history,” he said about the collection. “This is a college campus, and this is where students should be learning about history.”

El-Hakim said he received an invitation from a TSU official on Oct. 14 to bring his exhibition to campus during Black History Month in February. On Oct. 28, he was told the official’s supervisors did not approve his presence on campus and got his invitation rescinded.

Why did TSU disinvite the Black History 101 Mobile Museum?

A director of campus activities told el-Hakim that “after reviewing this with supervisors and the leadership team, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum was not approved to be on campus … due to SB-17, the current climate of our State, and certain topics covered as part of the museum” in an email obtained by The Statesman.

Senate Bill 17 is a 2023 law prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion offices and activities at public universities in Texas. TSU spokesperson Jayme Blaschke later added that the decision not to approve the exhibition was not due to the anti-DEI law. They said the university had planned a “range of events and activities” for Black History Month.

The news comes as TSU has recently made changes to its curriculum regarding mentions of gender identity and race. TSU has been conducting audits of courses that include content related to gender identity, which culminated in the firing of a Texas A&M University professor for teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature course. It also now requires approval for courses that “advocate” for race and gender ideology, according to The Statesman.

This fall, a TSU professor was fired after some of his remarks at a revolutionary socialism conference were posted online. A student said they were no longer enrolled after Gov. Greg Abbott advocated for their expulsion for having allegedly mocked Charlie Kirk’s death. A member of staff was then fired for defending the student online.

The ACLU and the NAACP are calling out censorship

El-Hakim called out what he sees as a form of censorship and the reflection of a “climate of suppression” of free speech.

“This is a part of that climate. It’s a form of censorship, it’s a form of denying basic constitutional rights of freedom of speech, at the bottom line, this is about academic freedom,” he said. “If I remain silent in a situation or injustice like this, that is betraying the history that I go out and promote and that I’ve given my life to for the past 35 years now. This is not a time to be silent.”

Some organizations have backed el-Hakim in a letter sent to TSU President Kelly Damphousse on Tuesday. The Texas chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund and the San Antonio-based nonprofit Intercultural Development Research Association said that the decision to disinvite the exhibition is part of a “broader pattern” of limiting education on race. The letter also highlighted that SB-17 does not bar diversity, equity and inclusion in teaching.