Black history class revised by College Board after criticism

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY and SHARON LURYE Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A revised curriculum for a new advanced placement course in African American studies downplays some elements that have drawn criticism from conservatives, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who threatened to ban the class in its state.
In the official framework released on Wednesday, topics such as Black Lives Matter, slavery reparations and queer theory are no longer subjects to be taught. They are just on a list of topics that states and school systems might offer students for end-of-year projects.
The rejection of the course by DeSantis, a potential Republican candidate for president in 2024, has sparked a new political debate about how schools teach about race. Last month, Florida officials released a chart saying he promoted the idea that modern American society oppresses black people, is inappropriate and uses articles that criticize capitalism.
A spokesperson for DeSantis said Wednesday that the state Department of Education is reviewing the revised curriculum to comply with Florida law.
The course is currently being tested in 60 schools across the United States, and the official framework is intended to guide the course’s expansion to hundreds of additional high schools over the next school year. The College Board, which oversees AP courses, said the developers consulted with professors from more than 200 colleges, including several historically black institutions.
The College Board also gathered feedback from teachers who run the pilot classes, as the draft curriculum has undergone several revisions over the past year.
Critics accused the organization of bowing to political pressure.
“Waking up on the first day of Black History Month to news of white men in prime horse-trading positions, essential and inextricably linked parts of Black history, which is American history, is infuriating,” said David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “The lives, contributions and stories of Black trans, queer and non-binary/non-conforming people are important and should not be diminished or erased.”
The course has been popular among students in the schools where it was introduced. At Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so many students were interested that Emmitt Glynn taught it to two classes, instead of the one he had originally planned.
At the beginning of the week, his students read extracts from “Les Miserables of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon, which deals with the violence inherent in colonial societies. During a lively discussion, students connected the text to what they had learned about the conflict between colonizers and Native Americans, the war in Ukraine, and police violence in Memphis, Tennessee.
“We’ve covered the full range of coasts from Africa to where we are now in the 1930s, and we’ll continue through history,” Glynn said. He said he is proud to see the connections his students make between the past and the present.
For 17-year-old Malina Ouyang, taking the course helped fill in the gaps in what she learned. “By taking this course,” she says, “I realized everything that is not said in the other courses.”
Matthew Evans, 16, said the class educated him on a multitude of perspectives on black history. He said the political controversy is just a “distraction”.
“Anytime you want to try to silence something, you’re only going to make someone want to know even more,” he said.
The College Board offers AP courses across the academic spectrum, including math, science, social studies, foreign languages, and fine arts. Classes are optional. Taught at the college level, students who score high enough on the final exam usually earn course credit at their university.
In a written statement Wednesday, College Board CEO David Coleman said the course was “an unflinching encounter with the facts and evidence of African American history and culture.”
“No one is excluded from this journey: black artists and inventors whose achievements have been revealed; black women and men, including gay Americans, who played central roles in civil rights movements; and believers from all walks of life who have contributed to anti-slavery and civil rights causes. Everyone is seen,” he said.
In Malcolm Reed’s class at St. Amant High School in Louisiana, where he teaches the AP class, he tries to be aware of how material and discussions can affect students.
“I give them the information and I saw light bulbs go out. I ask them, ‘How does this affect you? How do you feel learning this? ” he said. “It’s also new to me, and I’m taking it head on. We’re not just learning history, but we’re making history.
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Mumphrey reported from Phoenix. AP reporter Stephen Smith contributed to this report.
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