AP African American Studies Experience: Voices, Representation, and Intersectionality

AP African American Studies Experience: Voices, Representation, and Intersectionality

During an Upper School assembly, AP African American Studies students shared powerful reflections on how this course challenges traditional narratives and highlights the importance of representation and intersectionality in shaping both history and identity.

At the heart of the course is the goal of centering the Black experience in U.S. history—an often overlooked perspective. Diya Sharma '25 shared, “I chose to take this course, to explore the voices, stories, and experiences that have been left out, that are essential in shaping a better understanding of our past.” For Neal Gummadi '25, the course has been transformative: “[its] more than just a history class...[it] has encouraged me to think critically about the way stories are told and whose voices are amplified. It has reinforced my belief that learning diverse histories is essential, not just for understanding the past, but for shaping a more informed and just future.”

Representation in education matters, especially for Black students who often see their history and contributions left out. Autumn Nembhard '25 emphasized this, pointing to the importance of seeing teachers who reflect diverse experiences. Melanie-Rose Wentum '25 further discussed the danger of the “single story,” stating, “Such stories are repeated and shared over and over again and soon become a default position. Fostering an environment where every experience is heard and valued [becomes so important] because no one should allow for a single story to define them." Her words echoed the course’s broader mission to resist simplistic and limiting narratives.

A key element of the AP African American Studies course is its exploration of intersectionality—the idea that race, gender, class, and sexuality intersect in complex ways that shape people's experiences. Legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw coined this term in 1989, and the course uses it as a lens to examine individuals' overlapping identities. Melanie Teleo '25 presented her poem “They Say,” which explored the emotional toll of stereotypes on women of color. In her collaboration with Nadia Ali ‘25, the poem became a powerful expression of the challenges that arise from these intersecting identities.

The final segment of the assembly offered a reflection on the Clint Smith talk from the fall, which challenged students to rethink how slavery is taught in U.S. history. Sai Rukambe ’25 provided a thought-provoking reflection, arguing, “People do not understand the history of slavery in any meaningful way… It was not peripheral to our founding; it created it. It is not irrelevant to our contemporary society, it created it.” Sai urged the audience to confront the reality that much of what we've been taught is distorted, saying, “In recognizing the truth of our history, we are, in essence, confronting the uncomfortable reality that much of what we have been taught is a distortion.It is not a question of whether we can learn this history but rather if we have the collective will to reckon with it.”

The AP African American Studies course is not just about learning history—it's about transforming how students think critically about identity, power, and representation. Through reflections, poetry, and presentations, students have reminded us of the importance of diverse perspectives, the need to challenge reductive narratives, and the urgency of confronting uncomfortable truths about our past.

As these students continue their journey, they are not only reshaping their understanding of history—they are actively shaping a more inclusive and just future for all.