Bellport High School AP African American Studies students Tess Adepoju, Samaita Chowdhury, Jasmyn Jackson and Arielle Ross recently presented their final research projects to a packed room at the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Museum. Their research topics included “The Murder of Emmett Till and Its Influence on the Civil Rights Movement,” “Redlining and Its Lasting Effects,” “The Significance of African American Hairstyles in Shaping Personal Identity and Perception” and “The Contributions of African American Scientists and Inventors.”

“I am incredibly proud of every student who took this class,” said teacher Romelo Green. “They worked tirelessly throughout the entire year, not only in their final research projects but in every aspect of the class.”

According to Green, many of the topics students explored are complex, nuanced and rarely addressed in traditional high school or even many college-level history courses.

“This is why we wanted our students to have the opportunity to share their learning with the broader community,” he said. “It was a meaningful way to celebrate their hard work and bring an exceptional year to a close.”