Texas State University Cancels Black History Exhibition Under False Pretense of SB 17

Civil rights organizations are demanding that Texas State University reverse its decision to cancel the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, which they reject as blatantly unconstitutional. The ACLU of Texas, alongside other key allies, sent a letter this week urging the university to reinstate the invitation.

In October, Texas State invited Dr. Khalid el-Hakim to bring his nationally acclaimed traveling exhibition to campus in February 2026 for Black History Month. The museum has visited over 1,000 institutions across 43 states over 30 years, featuring more than 15,000 original artifacts documenting Black history from slavery through the civil rights movement and hip-hop culture.

Two weeks after extending the invitation, university administrators abruptly rescinded it, citing Senate Bill 17, "the current climate of our State, and certain topics covered as part of the museum." This marks the first cancellation in the museum's three-decade history.

The civil rights organizations' position is clear: this cancellation misapplies state law and violates the First Amendment. SB 17 explicitly exempts "guest speakers or performers on short-term engagements" from its prohibitions, making the law entirely inapplicable to Dr. el-Hakim's visit. More fundamentally, no state law can override federal constitutional protections for free speech.

By hosting similar events on campus, Texas State has created a limited public forum where viewpoint discrimination is forbidden. The university cannot constitutionally cancel invited speakers based on the content or perspective of their presentations.

This incident reflects a disturbing trend across Texas public institutions attempting to censor discussions of race and Black history. As educators committed to academic freedom, we should recognize that silencing Black history harms students, faculty, and our entire educational community. Students deserve access to the full breadth of American history that reflects the diverse experiences of people who have shaped this country.