Abdul Sharif was a wrestler at Florida A&M University years ago. He even coached the university’s wrestling team before returning to his alma mater around a decade ago to teach political science. Now, the professor finds himself wrestling with how to effectively teach certain concepts in an arena that is increasingly hostile in some ways to the views of students in his classroom.
Political engagement was more nuanced, he told Open Campus earlier this month. But as the political climate becomes increasingly polarized and politicians use incendiary rhetoric to garner attention, he’s had to change the way he teaches.
“Politics isn’t just about commercials anymore. It’s about who has the most views, most engagement — who’s active the most on apps like X and who can do the most political mudslinging,” Sharif said. “A few years ago, it wasn’t so much in our faces as it is now.”
Professors like Sharif say more students are entering their classrooms with opinions that stem from unverified or misleading information.
“Political parties are not the center focus of politics as they were before,” Sharif said. “Now it’s about what they saw on Twitter, Instagram, or other social outlets. Times have changed.”
Times have changed and for Sharif, that means meeting students where they are. Political science students — particularly those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — face a challenging reality of preparing for careers in a political climate that increasingly questions the value of diversity and misinformation. The fact that many of these students are too young to remember a time when bipartisan cooperation was more common adds to the challenge.
Morgan Patton, president of the Student Government Association at Grambling State University, said his peers are aware of the challenges they’ll face if they pursue political careers.
“The main thing for me is understanding both sides of the political sphere instead of one,” he said.”
He’s also focused on evaluating information because so much of what’s out there on social media is inaccurate.
“I take the second step to research information before posting about it, unlike most people my age who just post without fact checking – then you have a bigger issue,” Patton said.
Technology is especially important to students, and instead of looking at its use as a problem, Sharif attempts to integrate it into his teaching methods to engage students more effectively.
“Most professors don’t like for students to use their cellphones in the classroom, so I just put my own spin on it and use it to their advantage,” he said. “I understand what worked five years ago will possibly never work again not just because of the change in politics, but people and the urgency of certain matters have changed as well.”
Visiting one of the most popular websites in the world comprises much of the research that Bryce White, a presidential ambassador at Florida A&M University, does on a regular basis.
“I usually use platforms like YouTube to gain awareness, channels like Jubilee usually have content that hits on both sides of the political spectrum as well as providing some sources to verify statements. This gives me a good opportunity to hear both sides, without just making it about race,” White said.
In 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a policy banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public higher education. The ban has significant implications for political science students who are eager to champion those critical issues. Political science departments, traditionally tasked with fostering open discussions on governance, civil rights, and representation, face constraints in teaching and researching these areas under new restrictions.
Long Beach, Ca. native Eric Brannon is a cross country student-athlete at Alabama A&M University. Many students on campus feel as if their vote is in some ways moot, he said, because state politics are so overwhelmingly dominated by one major political party.
“In a state like Alabama, we often see difficulty encouraging students to get involved in politics because of a lack of hope,” said Brannon, who is also treasurer of his campus NAACP chapter. “Students often feel that Alabama will always be a ‘red state’ and that their vote ‘doesn’t matter here,’ but statistically speaking, if we got all of the colleges in Alabama to register and vote, we would have more than enough power to make a change in Alabama’s political climate.”
The HBCU context adds a distinct layer to this education. HBCU students often have a keen awareness of the systemic inequalities that pervade American politics. The stakes seem to be higher as they navigate an environment that is often hostile to issues that play a major role in political progression, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“In my class, at my HBCU – we are looking at facts. Facts are important because it’s not just about the political sphere now but also tieing in factors like race as well. The experience of a HBCU student differs from a student at a PWI because they’re looking at it from a different perspective,” said Sharif, who has a graduate degree from Clark Atlanta University. “Which is why in my lessons, I teach my students to check the facts, like who and where it’s coming from, instead of just going with all of the information thrown their way, or ‘enforced’ from elected officials – state or local.”
For professors like Sharif, this political climate requires a different approach to teaching.
“We can’t ignore what’s happening,” he said. “We talk about it in the classroom. We analyze the laws, the rhetoric, and the consequences. These students know that the world they’re stepping into is different, but they also know they’re being equipped with the tools to change it.”
In a political climate where the parameters of public education are increasingly defined by political agendas, these students face the challenging task of reconciling their ideals with a reality that may not support them. As future politicians, policymakers, and activists, these students must grapple with the value of the roles they are preparing for. According to Patton, they do care—more than ever.
“We know what we’re walking into. But we also know that if we don’t step up for ourselves, no one else will,” Patton said.