el-Hakim, Khalid | SpeakOut

Details

Biography

Topics

African Americans

Art & Politics

Black Panther Party

Civil Rights Movement

Education

Exhibits

Hip Hop

Islam

Islamophobia

Media

Programs for High School Students

Racism/Racial Justice

Dr. Khalid el-Hakim is the founder and curator of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, a collection of over 7,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to hip-hop culture. Dr. el-Hakim has been called the "Schomburg of the Hip-Hop generation" because of his passionate commitment to carry on the rich tradition of the Black Museum Movement.

He has received national and international attention for his innovative work of exhibiting Black history outside of traditional museum spaces. Most recently Dr. el-Hakim was given the distinct honor of being named among the Change Makers for NBC Universal’s Erase the Hate campaign and was one of the 100 Men of Distinction for Black Enterprise magazine.

As the nation's premiere Black history traveling exhibit, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum has exhibited in 40 states, at over 500 institutions including colleges and universities, K-12 schools, corporations, libraries, conferences, and cultural events, making it the most sought-after exhibit of its kind in the country.

In 2013, he published The Center of the Movement: Collecting Hip Hop Memorabilia, a groundbreaking book on the material artifacts of hip-hop culture. Dr. El-Hakim has also worked for over twenty years in the hip-hop industry as a manager and/or booking agent for artists such as The Last Poets, Proof of D12, Jessica Care Moore, and Professor Griff of Public Enemy. He also currently represents a number of speakers and artists as part of SpeakOut.

Dr. el-Hakim taught middle school social studies in Detroit for 15 years and recently founded the Michigan Hip Hop Archive which opens on the campus of Western Michigan University this year. He received his Ph.D. from College of Education at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

Testimonials

"Khalid breaths life into history with his exhibits and storytelling. His mastery of the historical timeline and ability to connect with audiences makes him ideal for students, faculty, staff and administrators. I have booked him at every institution I've worked for in the past decade."
— Lasana O. Hotep, Dean, Student Equity and Support Programs, Skyline College, CA

"Khalid is our foremost archivist of the culture."
— Chuck D of Public Enemy

“Khalid is truly one of the most thought-provoking and innovative educators out there. I've had the opportunity to bring Khalid and the Black History Mobile Museum to our campus a number of times and it's been extremely impactful. He has an incredible gift at using artifacts to connect with and engage students about our past and how that past informs our future.
— Luke Givens, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs & Intercultural Center, University of North Carolina Asheville

“Khalid el-Hakim has been called the Arturo Schomburg of our generation for his deliberate, diligent and meticulous gleaning of the past. Through the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, Khalid has brought to life the history of a resilient people, and thus vividly narrates American history through artifacts, through the senses. The only parallel granted the power and awe of the museum is Khalid's stirring and eloquent lecture which gives voice and adds a layer of context and dimension to the artifacts in the exhibit.”
— Dr. Derrick Jenkins, Professor, Cincinnati State College OH

“The exhibit allows students to interact with history in a way that can’t easily be done in regular classrooms or lectures – they connect with the objects, and begin to link the pieces to their own experiences. They become part of the story and begin to see themselves as part of a broader historical context. We have been able to facilitate conversations around positionality (where and how we find ourselves in historical context), resistance, identity and curriculum development on our campus that have directly tied to our community’s experience with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum.
— Natalia Carvalho-Pinto, Director, Intercultural Student Life, Kalamazoo College MI

"Thanks, Khalid for taking your exhibit to our various BCBSM sites! It has impacted our employees and broadened our perspectives in so many ways."
— Bridget Hurd, Senior Director, Diversity & Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

"This is the official Hip Hop museum! It's inspirational!"
— KRS One, Hip Hop icon

"What I love about your museum is that it's accessible. You don't have to go to it, it comes to you!"
— Jessica Care Moore, founder, Black Women Rock!

Speeches

Khalid el-Hakim brings the Black History 101 Mobile Museum to your campus and community and can provide these lectures and workshops:

The Black Museum Movement in America
Beginning with the first Black museums on the campuses of Howard and Wilberforce in the late 1800's to the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., this presentation provides insight into the significance and importance of Black museums in America.

Using Hip Hop Artifacts as an Inquiry-Based Learning Approach to Teach Black History
Using historical artifacts through the lens of hip hop culture, this intriguing workshop provides students space to develop their own questions regarding the material objects presented in the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered approach that Khalid believes allows students to ask questions that lead to a deeper understanding of hip-hop culture and its connection to broader Black social, cultural, and political movements.

The Truth Hurts: Black History, Honesty, and Healing the Racial Divide
Using original artifacts from the archive of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, Khalid will facilitate an engaging dialogue, inviting the audience to look honestly at the history of racism in America and begin the process of healing.

Teaching Black History through Material Culture
Khalid lends his unique perspective and expertise as a former social studies teacher to invite the audience to participate in hands-on activities, using artifacts to delve into a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black history and culture.

The Black History 101 Mobile Museum: A Model for Inclusion and Accessibility for Exhibits in Diverse Spaces
For the past 12 years, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum has gained an exemplary national and international reputation as a traveling exhibit that has transformed the way visitors think about the museum experience. Khalid walks the audience through the process of developing this grassroots approach of educating the community about Black history through his philosophy of a visitor-centered, inclusionary and accessible museum experience.

Media