Yale University will offer a course titled "Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music," taught by Professor Daphne Brooks. The class will explore Beyoncé's influence on Black feminist and liberation politics, as well as her innovative use of the album form. This course is part of a trend in academia to study pop culture icons, similar to classes on Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
The final version of the College Board's A.P. African American Studies course has been released, but it has faced criticism for avoiding certain disputed topics. The curriculum excludes critical race theory and structural racism, which scholars argue are essential concepts. L.G.B.T.Q. issues are also mostly absent, except for mentioning that civil rights leader Bayard Rustin was gay. The study of the Black Lives Matter movement is optional, despite the course's origins around it. However, the course does include the concepts of systemic oppression, systemic marginalization, intersectionality, Black feminism, and police violence. The College Board has not provided an explanation for the exclusions.
The College Board has released the finalized curriculum for the Advanced Placement African American Studies course, which will launch in the 2024-25 school year. The course, which faced criticism from conservative lawmakers, has undergone revisions to include more foundational perspectives and historically accurate content. The curriculum covers the origins of the African diaspora, slavery, community development, and political and social movements. It also mentions figures like Colin Kaepernick and Kimberlé Crenshaw. The course was developed with input from African American Studies scholars, AP teachers, and experts over three years.
The College Board has released an updated framework for its Advanced Placement (AP) course in African American Studies, which covers Black history through an interdisciplinary lens. The course has been popular among students, but has faced criticism from conservatives. The new framework largely preserves the current topics while expanding on others, and offers teachers options on subject matter that has drawn scrutiny. The course aims to provide a transformative experience for students, prompting conversations between parents and students. It covers a wide range of topics, including ancient civilizations, the TransAtlantic slave trade, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement, and contemporary issues such as Black Lives Matter. Despite facing opposition in some states, the course has seen high enrollment and has the potential to build a pipeline for students to pursue further education.
The Advanced Placement (AP) African American studies course has added a lesson on sports and racial justice, including the story of Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial oppression and police brutality. The course plan, which had faced controversy and revisions, now includes terms and concepts such as "systemic" and "intersectionality" that had previously been minimized or omitted. The course, currently in a trial phase, is set to launch nationwide next fall and aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of African American history, culture, and experiences.
The College Board has released an updated framework for its new Advanced Placement African American Studies course, addressing previous criticism and adding more material on topics such as the Tulsa Race Massacre and redlining. The course, which gained attention earlier this year when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis threatened to ban it, will officially launch next academic year. The revisions include the inclusion of works on feminism and intersectionality, as well as the addition of Black female writers. The College Board faced criticism for removing certain topics from the exam, but the latest changes aim to provide a comprehensive and unflinching encounter with the subject matter.
Florida officials rejected a new Advanced Placement course on African American Studies, claiming it lacked "opposing viewpoints" and "other perspectives" on slavery. Internal state documents obtained by the Miami Herald revealed concerns about the curriculum's focus on the slave trade and abolitionists, with reviewers suggesting the inclusion of perspectives from "the other side." Critics argue that this reflects an effort to whitewash the country's history of slavery. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been targeting "woke" culture and limiting teachings on racial inequality and LGBTQ+ issues. The College Board, which oversees AP courses, plans to revise the curriculum and submit it for approval in November.
Florida rejected an Advanced Placement course on African American Studies, citing objections to concepts such as reparations, the Black Lives Matter movement, and "queer theory." However, internal state comments reveal that reviewers also objected to the accurate portrayal of slavery and the plight of African Americans throughout history. The state raised concerns about presenting a one-sided view and not including opposing viewpoints, despite the fact that there is no other perspective on slavery in African American studies. These objections reflect Florida's broader restrictions on teaching about racism and history, as part of Governor Ron DeSantis' efforts to combat what he calls "wokeism" and "liberal indoctrination" in schools. Critics argue that the objections amount to historical distortion and whitewashing.
The Little Rock School District in Arkansas has announced that it will offer Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies for credit, despite state education officials stating that students enrolled in the course would not receive credits towards graduation. The district, which includes Central High School, a significant site in the Civil Rights era, plans to continue offering the course and work closely with the College Board on content and curriculum. The move comes amid a broader debate over the inclusion of Black history education in schools, with Republican leaders in other states also seeking to limit its scope.
Private emails obtained through open-records laws reveal that the College Board's faculty advisers criticized the organization's spin on the revision of a new high-school AP class in African-American Studies, which was allegedly forced by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The College Board denied pressure and claimed that the revisions were pedagogical, but faculty advisers questioned which student, professor, or teacher suggested adding black conservatives to the course over Combahee River Collective.
McLain High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma is one of 60 schools in 33 states across the US piloting an Advanced Placement course in African American Studies. The course has been at the center of a national debate about teaching issues of race in public schools, with multiple states including Virginia, Arkansas, North Dakota and Mississippi saying they would review the curriculum to see if the course violates states’ policies. The course covers a range of topics including the resistance and rebellion of African Americans, the lynching of Black people, slave breeding farms, prominent figures in Black history, and the Afro-Latino movement.
The College Board is making changes to its AP African American Studies course for high school students after criticism from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. CNN visited McLain High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the pilot version of the course is being taught and spoke to teachers and students.
The College Board is making changes to the framework of its Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high school students amid criticism from Florida’s influential Republican governor and others who have accused the program of imposing a “political agenda.” The board didn’t specify what would change about the course, saying details would be determined in the coming months. A pilot version of the course is now being offered in 60 high schools and will expand to 800 schools and 16,000 students in the next school year.
The College Board has announced that it will revise its controversial Advanced Placement course in African American studies, which has faced criticism from both the left and the right. The course has been accused of promoting a political agenda and lacking educational value. The College Board has not specified what changes will be made, but has pledged to ensure that all students have access to the full breadth and beauty of the discipline. The course is currently being taught in about 60 high schools and is expected to launch nationwide in fall 2024.
The College Board has announced that changes will be made to its new AP African American studies course after critics accused the agency of bowing to political pressure and removing several topics from the framework. The course gained national attention when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he would ban the course in his state because it pushed a political agenda. The course was launched in 60 schools in the US and will be expanded to 800 schools and 16,000 students this upcoming school year.
