Rebroadcast: Nikole Hannah-Jones on the 1619 Project and how the legacy of slavery shapes America
Jul 2, 2022
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Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses the 1619 Project, reframing American history around the legacy of slavery. She explores the impact of slavery on America's wealth, the Haitian Revolution's significance, and challenges traditional narratives of patriotism and democracy.
The 1619 Project highlights the ownership of slaves by key historical figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Language choice in historical narratives can reveal the true horrors of slavery and challenge historical perceptions.
Deep dives
Historical Figures and Slavery
The podcast discusses how many of the early presidents of the United States, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, owned slaves. Nicole Hannah Jones, the creator of the 1619 Project, emphasizes the role of slavery in the nation's history by highlighting the enslavement of key historical figures.
Impact of Language Choices on Perception of History
Nicole Hannah Jones explains the significance of language in shaping perceptions of history. By using terms like 'forced labor camp' instead of 'plantation', she aims to reveal the true horrors of slavery and the hypocrisy of historical figures in America. The language choices in historical narratives can either illuminate or obscure the truths of past events.
Slavery as an Economic Institution
The podcast delves into the viewpoint that slavery was primarily an economic institution aimed at maximizing profit through the exploitation of human beings. Nicole Hannah Jones challenges the misconception that slavery was inefficient by highlighting its profitability and strategic significance. Viewing slavery as an economic venture underscores the conscious exploitation and dehumanization of enslaved individuals for economic gain.
Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for the New York Times Magazine and the creator of the 1619 Project. The initiative reframes America’s past around an important date that isn’t mentioned in many history books: 1619, the beginning of slavery in the U.S. Hannah-Jones has expanded on the idea and turned it into a book called The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Below are excerpts from Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu’s interview with Hannah-Jones about the project.
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