About
Twenty four high school students at the CREC Academy of Science and Innovation, a public magnet school located in New Britain, Connecticut, are enrolled in AP African American Studies for the 2023-2024 school year. This is the second pilot year for the course, which will launch at scale next school year.
In the first unit, Origins of the African Diaspora, students examined the history of ancient Africa, from the origins of humanity in the Great Rift Valley, through the migrations across and out of the continent, and to the rise of powerful kingdoms and empires. It is imperative to begin the study of African American history here as it serves as an effective counter narrative to the racist myths that arose during the transatlantic slave trade and persist to this day. Instead, students came to see the history of Africa as rich, nuanced, complex, influential, and valuable in the overall history of humanity.
The creation of this website served as the summative performance task for the unit.
In the first unit, Origins of the African Diaspora, students examined the history of ancient Africa, from the origins of humanity in the Great Rift Valley, through the migrations across and out of the continent, and to the rise of powerful kingdoms and empires. It is imperative to begin the study of African American history here as it serves as an effective counter narrative to the racist myths that arose during the transatlantic slave trade and persist to this day. Instead, students came to see the history of Africa as rich, nuanced, complex, influential, and valuable in the overall history of humanity.
The creation of this website served as the summative performance task for the unit.