Historians of Africa have made foundational contributions to the effort to establish world history as a major field in scholarship and teaching, and Africanists are among the most vocal proponents of this approach as an alternative to introductory surveys that celebrate a singular narrative of Western Civilization. Nevertheless, there remains enormous potential for reframing the overarching developments that structure most world history survey courses to address the pivotal roles of Africans and African polities.

What does this look like in the classroom? And when, where, and how might teachers help their history students engage constructively with African perspectives across the entire sweep of world history?

The AHA’s State of the Field for Busy Teachers series provides a forum for history teachers at all levels to interact with leading historians and discuss content, sources, and trends in scholarly interpretation on a theme related to topics commonly addressed in the history classroom. Jennifer Hart will outline current debates, new lines of inquiry, and useful sources. For the rest of the session, a panel of educators moderates a discussion, with robust audience participation, about how to incorporate insights from new research into the classroom. We anticipate a lively exchange in which all participants can walk away with new insights and resources.