New Class: African American Politics coming to Chesapeake College

WYE MILLS, Md — Chesapeake College students will have the option to join a new class as a part of their diversity credit requirement for graduation.

The class is called African American politics taught by Adjunct Professor Kisha Petticolas. With a background in politics, she wants her students to understand how politics surrounding African Americans have been different due to history. Students will learn about the main characters of the movements, such as  Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Gloria Richardson, Donna King, Coretta Scott King, and more.

Petticolas says the class is designed to give students a look at politics through a new lens. “I want my students to understand the constitution and how that has played a role in things political in nature having to do with African Americans and how what was once legal is now illegal and how that continues to be an issue,” she says. Petticolas has the final project in the works, which allows students to create a platform for an imaginary party and compare the history to where we are now to then, and from there decide what changes need to be made.

Petticolas wants students to understand that politics play a role in everyone’s life. Ultimately, students will uncover the history of how we got here and the mechanisms that are needed to make changes in the future. She hopes students will understand they have a responsibility to be involved and informed.

Petticolas tells us she is thrilled that the school decided to bring the class back after 10 years. Chesapeake College has been working hard on diversity, equity, and inclusion, this is the start. The class is open for 2022 spring registration.