This college preparatory course surveys African American literature from the 18th to 20th centuries from both a historical and literary perspective. We will study a range of genres, including novels, short stories, poetry, and autobiographies by African Americans. Texts are explored not only from the perspective of race, but from the larger context of cultural themes, social movements, and literary and artistic connections. Students will develop their writing skills through close reading and response, a series of literary analyses and argumentative essays, and by creating their own original poetry. 

Though summer reading is not required for this course, students will find that establishing a reading habit over the summer helps them get a head start on the reading experience they will have during the year. While we encourage them to read books of their own choosing, we also recommend the following titles as indicative of the type of literary rigor they may encounter in the African-American literature classroom: Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, and Richard Wright’s Black Boy. Parents may wish to have students read at least one of these titles, as doing so will help them enter the course better prepared for its pace and expectations.

Additional Expectations: The workload and expectations are designed to prepare students for college-level analysis and writing, emphasizing critical thinking and effective communication skills.

Note: Juniors and seniors may choose between American Literature, African American Literature, British Literature, and Screenwriting. The courses are comparable in work and requirements. If juniors wish to join the AP track, they select AP Language & Composition, followed by AP Literature & Composition their senior year if they remain in Advanced Placement classes. Philosophy in Literature (H) provides an honors-level course for students who are not pursing AP; the workload and rigor are commensurate to an AP course.