AP® African American Studies

Basic & On Demand

Enrollment for Basic and On Demand courses is open on a rolling basis.

Plus

Teachers can use the complete Plus course curriculum for flexible instruction.

Course Summary

Embark on a journey through African American Studies, tracing the path from ancient kingdoms to contemporary challenges and achievements. Explore migration, identity, resistance, resilience, and the arts through primary texts, visual and data sources. Hone interdisciplinary skills in source analysis, argumentation, and the application of disciplinary knowledge. Cultivate critical thinking and an appreciation for the cultural complexities of Black communities in the United States, contextualized within Africa and the African diaspora.

This course prepares you for the AP® African American Studies exam.

Course Prerequisite(s): There are no prerequisites for this course. Students should be able to read a college-level textbook and write grammatically correct sentences. In addition, students should be able to analyze images, think critically and write essays using evidence.

Curriculum

This is a 2-semester course. We do not recommend taking both semesters simultaneously.

Semester 1

Unit 1: Origins of African Diaspora

Black Studies: The Strength & Complexity of Early African Societies
Early African Empires, Kingdoms & City-States
Early Africa & Global Politics

Unit 2: Freedom, Enslavement & Resistance

Atlantic Africans & the Transatlantic Slave Trade
From Capture to Sale: The Middle Passage
Slavery, Labor & American Law
Culture & Community

Unit 3: Resistance & Revolt

Radical Resistance & Revolt, Part 1
Radical Resistance & Revolt, Part 2
Resistance Strategies, Part 1
Resistance Strategies, Part 2

Unit 4: Abolition & Freedom

Abolition & the War for Freedom
Freedom Days: Commemorating the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom

Semester 2

Available in spring 2025.

Enrollment will open the week of December 2.