A new look at history: AP African American Studies now offered

Cedar Shoals High School is one of the 800 schools in the United States that offers the AP African American Studies class for the 2023-24 school year. Taught by Mr. Montu Miller, who also teaches peer leadership and ethnic studies, this year’s pilot run will determine the class’ future at Cedar Shoals.

Because it is a college-level class, Miller expects the workload to be heavy and understands that he may need to take extra measures to support his students. Despite the quantity of work, he is adamant about remaining consistent in his teaching style.

“I really do try to have a diverse way of teaching through videos, readings, partner stuff: just a little bit of everything,” Miller said.

When teaching about two African queens, Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba and Queen Idia of Benin, Miller begins by discussing the topic through a quick lecture complete with slides that cover the monarchs’ background, leadership roles, accomplishments and legacy. The students then split into group discussions, comparing and contrasting the two rulers. While his students are working, Miller is either at his standing desk in the back of the classroom or strolling around to see if any of his students need assistance. 

He says he looks forward to what he can accomplish with more time, such as conducting field trips to prominent Black history sites around the south. 

“I would love to go to Montgomery and the Legacy Museum. There’s a Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta,” Miller said. “There’s just so much history in Georgia, even in Athens. We can easily go on some trips, and maybe even one day create a summer program.”

Last year, the College Board withdrew several topics from their recommended curriculum, which was officially established on Feb. 1, 2023. Topics that were removed include Black Lives Matter, discrimination and racial inequality experienced by Black people, slavery reparations, the three-fifths compromise and Black queer life. 

While the College Board removed certain material from the curriculum, Miller feels it’s important that his students are properly informed on everything that happened throughout history.

“I think it’s ridiculous (removing the topics), but it’s a battle that we have to fight,” Miller said. “It’s going to make the schools better, it’s going to make kids more well rounded, and it’s going to help them understand history more.” 

Miller believes that when teaching, showing the full picture of history instead of only certain information is essential. This has been shown to his students through his thoroughly planned lessons which still include the no longer required subjects.

“We don’t learn this in other history classes or social studies classes, so it’s good to be more educated,” senior Kelia Johnson said.

Unfortunately, not all states are as adaptive to these new adjustments that the college board has constructed to this class. Florida Governor Ron Desantis and the state legislature banned AP African American Studies due to the anti-critical race theory laws they adopted at the time. Arkansas also dropped the course from its curriculum, and North Dakota, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia have the class under review. 

“There are scared teachers or teachers that walk on eggshells every day, but I’m just not one of them,” Miller said.