As course registration approaches, students all over Enloe scramble to determine which classes they want to take. Factors like the difficulty of the subject and who teaches the class can either incentivize or discourage a student from taking the course. In honor of Black History Month, we would like to urge students to consider the African-American-focused courses offered here at Enloe.
Enloe offers three courses on African American culture: the recently-introduced AP African American Studies, an honors-level African American Studies course, and African American Literature. According to the College Board, AP African American Studies is an “interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment.” The class teaches not only history, but also catches up with the ongoing story of African American culture and how it continues to influence everyday life in America and around the world. Simply put, students in the class learn about African American history, as well as how it pertains to the world today. It’s a strong AP course that excellently recontextualizes American history.
The Enloe course listings guide describes African American Literature as a course that “explores African American writing and its relationship to American history and culture. Students study critical theories of African American literature and the contexts of cultural criticism through selected works by African American writers.” Ms. Saulter, who teaches the course and has a Master’s in African American Literature, says that her class’ takeaway is that “African American people are creative, intelligent, innovative people. African Americans can do anything and continue to do things for this world.” In her class, students “take away the knowledge about writers… and what they add to American literature, understand why they write, and have a heightened appreciation for the writers.” Notable African American authors such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs offered white America and the global community a direct insight into the oppression, trauma, and brutality linked to American slavery. Today, Black literature continues to play a crucial role in breaking down the obstacles of inequality, discrimination, and stereotypes.
African American studies and literature are often overlooked in the sea of electives offered at Enloe. With government backlash already limiting how teachers can talk about race, gender, and sexual orientation, a designated class for this type of discussion is very important. Nate Branscomb, an AP African American Studies student, believes, “People don’t realize the importance of these classes to just US history as a whole.” He continues, explaining that people who are not African American might be put off by this class because it isn’t “pertaining to [them]… And they don’t realize how much of an impact [African American history has] really had on the creation of the US and current happenings.” Recognizing African American contributions to American and world history, such as Shirley Chisholm being the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and Patrice Lumumba being the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo, is one of the first steps towards becoming an independent critical thinker about the world you live in.
These classes offer in-depth explorations of the experiences of Black individuals through historical, cultural, political, and sociological perspectives. Through these classes, students are exposed to literary works and develop an understanding of history and the world today in ways not taught in an ordinary English or history class. This enables students to acquire insights into intricate social matters and become more knowledgeable citizens ready to participate in significant conversations about race and social inequities. They’re also a valuable way to help generate empathy and understanding within the student body and the larger school community. They enable students to learn the value of inclusion alongside their peers, fostering mutual respect. Additionally, representation is essential in schools, and Black students should have the opportunity to see examples of inventors and writers who look like them and influence them to succeed.
Studying Black history could be the most crucial subject for an American student throughout their K-12 education or college experience. This history is not only about the past but also deeply connected to our present and future, and it would be a disservice to learners not to teach them about this rich and diverse history. It encompasses much more than a single month or the remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; it involves the vision of the type of country we, as Americans, aspire to create and the values that hold significance for us. By ignoring or denying this history, we turn our backs on our identity and what it truly means to be American. In the words of Nate Branscomb, “If you’re someone who wants to know why things happen in the world, and you have all these questions… why is this happening here, why is this happening there. You want answers… this is one of those classes to take.”
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year ends Mar. 12, so if you’re struggling to fill spaces on your golden ticket, consider signing up for African American studies classes!
