PHOTOS: Inside an AP African American Studies Class

Curriculum Photos

PHOTOS: Inside an AP African American Studies Class

By Ileana Najarro & Jaclyn Borowski — March 29, 2024 1 min read

Students listen to a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities during Ahenewa El-Amin’s AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Students listen to a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities during Ahenewa El-Amin’s AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

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Lexington , Ky. -

The AP African American Studies course is officially launching this fall in a political climate in which states have limited instruction on race.

Kentucky is one of those states, yet Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., has been piloting the course.

Here’s what a typical class day looks like.

Cole Wicker answers a question during a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities as part of the AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Cole Wicker answers a question during a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities as part of the AP African American Studies class.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Students participate in a discussion during AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Students participate in a discussion. The class is full of conversation as El-Amin and her students teach, and learn from, each other.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Brian Bliss, left, and Melody El-Amin teach classmates how to step as part of a presentation on the Iota Phi Theta fraternity during AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Brian Bliss, left, and Melody El-Amin teach classmates how to step as part of a presentation on the Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Ahenewa El-Amin has a conversation with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Ahenewa El-Amin has a conversation with students during her AP African American Studies class. She refers to her students as the "founders" of the course.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Nia Henderson Louis gives a presentation on Alpha Kappa Alpha as part of a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities during the AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Nia Henderson-Louis gives a presentation on Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. as part of a lesson on Black fraternities and sororities during the AP African American Studies class. Nia’s parents teach Africana studies, anthropology, political science, and gender and women’s studies in higher education. They’ve helped El-Amin ensure she’s on track with her lesson plans and offered suggestions for resources.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Ahenewa El-Amin speaks with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Ahenewa El-Amin, left, speaks with students during her AP African American Studies class. She plans to apply the insight and feedback she's gathered from students during the pilot to the course in future years, and to use student projects from this year as examples.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Flyers, designed by Ahenewa El-Amin, decorate the halls of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., as the teacher works to recruit students to take the AP African American Studies class. — Flyers designed by Ahenewa El-Amin decorate the halls of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., as the teacher works to recruit students to take AP African American Studies.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Principal Corye Franklin discusses the AP African American Studies course during an interview with Education Week at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. — Principal Corye Franklin discusses the AP African American Studies course during an interview with Education Week. Though he's new to the Lexington school, he said he sees the course as an opportunity to decolonize curriculum and offer a class in which students can see themselves reflected in the material.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

Ileana Najarro

Staff Writer, Education Week

Ileana Najarro is a reporter for Education Week covering race and opportunity in schools across the country.

Jaclyn Borowski

Director of Photography & Videography, Education Week

Jaclyn Borowski is the director of photography and videography for Education Week.

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