After some criticism, the College Board has announced it is changing the Advanced Placement African American course again. 

A professor at Syracuse University explains what it means for the course and the future of African American studies.

“This is an important moment,” said Luvell Anderson, a faculty member of African American studies at Syracuse University. “[It’s] one that will determine the health and viability of the discipline.”

As a professor, Anderson focuses on issues of language, race and humor.

"I've always had a kind of interest in the way that different people understand one another or what makes it possible to understand people from different cultures and different communities," he said.

He's written about racial slurs, epistemic injustices and racial humor. In his courses, he says he wants his students to think at a deeper level.

"[I want to] offer them tools and skills that will help them discover and continue in a life of discovery," Anderson said.

Part of that is learning different backgrounds. The AP African American course attempts to teach students about Black history, but it’s at a crossroads. Anderson believes the College Board needs to stick to the reason why they’re introducing this course.

“[They should] craft a curriculum that’s true to its heart, which is again challenging the educational status quo that has by and large written African Americans out of the creation of culture," said Anderson.

The way Black history is taught in schools has received criticism with some critics who say the contributions and oppression of Black people have been excluded from curriculums.

“What’s at stake is a true understanding of how the country came to be," he said. "It can’t skirt away from concepts or discussions of histories and experiences that might generate, let's say, offense or that might generate controversy.”

Anderson believes the response from the College Board is vital for African American studies as a whole.

“How do you act in light of pressures from lawmakers? Do you water it down or do you try to maintain the integrity of the scholarship?" said Anderson.