Haven Orecchio-Egresitz is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle Pittsfield schools chief, Jason McCandless, said in February the district would bring history courses back to that city's schools. On August 13, he and staff from Pittsfield's two high schools spoke at a public meeting about what those classes will look like starting this fall. Beginning in September, both Pittsfield and Taconic high schools will offer African American history courses. At Taconic, it will be a full-year course, taught by Jamal Ahamad. The class will talk about African American oppression, but also address contributions made by people of color to society, focusing on black culture, television and sports. Ahamad created the curriculum and the reading list for the course. According to Taconic High School Principal Matt Bishop, 50 students have enrolled for the class. At Pittsfield High School, where an African American literature class has been offered for three years, African American history will be a more traditional semester-long course that examines primary sources, McCandless said. The school system is working to improve an educational system that long has overlooked the work and contributions of people of color, "accidentally or purposefully," McCandless said. Read the full story inThe Berkshire Eagle.