Doss started incorporating black history into her classes 23 years ago, and sees it as a necessary part of learning.

&uot;If you know everything there is about Chaucer and Shakespeare, then you should know about Langston Hughes and Richard Wright,&uot; Doss said.

In 1997 Doss expanded her normal load of English and writing classes to include a one-semester course on African-American literature.

The elective usually draws between 15 and 20 students and sometimes has to be offered more than one period a day, Doss said.

During the semester students study works by notable black authors starting with the passage to America and ending in modern times.

Authors include everyone from Fredrick Douglas and Charles Chestnutt to Bill Cosby and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Senior Ashley Mitchell said she signed up for the African American literature class because she’d heard good things about it.

&uot;I love to learn about Africans,&uot; she said.

&uot;All the books are good because they are all different and from so many different time periods.&uot;

In Doss’ honors English and creative writing classes black history is also prevalent.

&uot;We look back to the past to understand the present and to look positively to the future,&uot; Doss said.

&uot;I feel they should just know about history. It’s left up to you to decide how’ll you’ll handle the knowledge you have.&uot;

Katrina Coleman, a 12th grader in honors English, said black history was just a part of Doss’ classes.

&uot;I’ve learned to be interactive not just with my culture, but with other cultures,&uot; Coleman said.

Tatiana McCreary, also a senior in Honors English, chose to do a paper on blacks in the Civil War.

&uot;It’s good to know what your ancestors did and know that they will fight for their country,&uot; McCreary said.

&uot;It showed the impact African Americans have in today’s society.&uot;

Doss said many of her students were surprised by what they learned.

&uot;Many times they are appalled,&uot; she said. &uot;Some the things we discuss they didn’t have a clue of.

&uot;But it gives them self esteem and pride and they are always ready for the next day.&uot;