Charles Chesnutt in the Classroom is the result of the energy and enthusiasm of students I teach in African American literature classes at Cleveland State University. Among those students are Nina Kidd and Colleen Wright, whose editorial assistance has been invaluable over the years. I am equally indebted to Glenda Thornton, Director of the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, whose recognition of this project sustained my commitment to its scholarly merits. Finally, this work is dedicated to Geoffrey Paul Thurman (1958-2018), whose insight and encouragement kept this project alive.