This piece is the first in a two-part series on underground courses at CHS. Read the second part here.
As course selection season approaches, students are once again facing the yearly question: Which classes should I take next? For many, that decision often comes down to familiar factors like workload, GPA and college credit. But nestled among the long list of AP and elective options is a course that challenges students to think beyond the usual: AP African American studies
Piloted across the country in 2023, AP African American Studies takes a deep dive into more than 400 years of history, culture, art and politics. Despite its rich content, the course is still finding its footing at Clements.
“The first thing [students] want to know is, ‘Is it hard? Do I have to do a lot of work? Do I have to write?’” AP African American Studies teacher Chriscia Jackson said,. “I think sometimes y’all base your decisions on that.”
Because the course is relatively new, many students simply don’t know what to expect.
“The first year was the shocker because there was nothing, they had no clue,” Jackson said. “But they took it and they’re like, ‘Oh,’ and so they went from there.”
For senior Sarah Khwaja, it was her friends who convinced her to give the class a chance.
“All of my reasons are basically my friends,” Khwaja said. “They said Dr. Jackson’s a great teacher, this class is really fun, it’s good to be in this class as a senior—so I took it because it sounded like a fun class.”
Lack of information can also make students hesitant. Many don’t feel comfortable taking a class because they don’t want to be the “guinea pig”. And for many upperclassmen, the idea of adding a potentially challenging AP course late in their high school career doesn’t always appeal.
“If it looks fun, y’all want to do it. If it doesn’t look fun, then y’all don’t want to do it,” Jackson said. “Especially as a senior, you don’t want to put effort in for the A.”
Still, those who take AP African American Studies say the rewards go far beyond grades. With course selection right around the corner, classes like AP African American studies remind students that choosing something new can be just as rewarding as staying in their comfort zone. For those willing to take the leap, it’s not only an AP credit, it’s a perspective that lasts far beyond high school.
“You get a whole knowledge base and a whole set of ideals that you wouldn’t get in your normal classes,” Jackson said. “You can expand your knowledge, grow as a person, and learn how to interact with people from different backgrounds.”
