Georgetown University professor discusses the Advance Placement African American Studies pilot program

Dr. Robert J. Patterson, a professor of African American Studies and the former chair of the Department of African American Studies at Georgetown University, says the Advance Placement African American Studies pilot program was intended to do something that American education has not done: centralize Black experiences, Black knowledge and Black culture.

Patterson, a co-chair of the committee of professors and teachers who developed the A. P. African American Studies course, was a guest on Monday’s edition of “Closer Look.” He talked about the pilot program and the controversy surrounding it.

“There’s no way you can teach African American studies without talking about slavery, without talking about privilege or without talking about white supremacy,” explained Patterson.