Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at The New York Times and creator of the influential 1619 Project, challenges conventional narratives of American history. She discusses how the 1619 Project reframes the understanding of slavery and Black contributions, advocating for a deeper engagement with historical injustices. Hannah-Jones delves into the political battles over historical interpretation, reflecting on how these narratives shape present-day identity and discourse. The conversation calls for a shared history to move forward and confront America's past.
50:11
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering 1619
Nikole Hannah-Jones first encountered the year 1619 in a high school Black Studies elective.
This sparked an obsession to learn more about Black history and the legacy of slavery.
insights INSIGHT
1619 as an Origin Story
Nikole Hannah-Jones's understanding of 1619 as an origin story developed gradually through her research on racial inequality.
She realized that slavery's legacy deeply affects American society today.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Manipulated History
Hannah-Jones's education lacked information about Africa, leading her to believe Black people hadn't accomplished much.
Learning about Egypt's location in Africa surprised her, highlighting how history can be manipulated.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Before the Mayflower provides a detailed and engaging history of African Americans, covering their experiences from the Colonial period through slavery, Reconstruction, and the civil rights upheavals of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The book emphasizes the deep roots of African Americans in American history, predating the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. It includes a timeline and archival images, making it a seminal study in African American history.
The 1619 Project
The New York Times Company
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Born on the Water
null
Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renee Watson
Born on the Water is a children's book that tells the story of the Gullah Geechee people, who are descendants of enslaved Africans who lived on the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. The book is a celebration of their resilience and cultural heritage. It is beautifully illustrated and written in a way that is both engaging and informative. The story is inspiring and empowering, and it is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. The book's message of hope and perseverance is both timely and timeless. It is a valuable resource for educators and parents alike. The book's vibrant illustrations and engaging story make it a memorable read.
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
Annette Gordon-Reed
In 'Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy', Annette Gordon-Reed presents a meticulous analysis of the evidence surrounding the alleged relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. The book critiques the biases and inconsistencies in previous scholarly evaluations, arguing that the evidence for this relationship has been unfairly dismissed. Gordon-Reed's work is both a historical inquiry and a commentary on the broader societal issues of race and power.
Crusade for Justice
The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells
This engaging memoir chronicles Ida B. Wells's private life as a mother and her public activities as a teacher, lecturer, and journalist. It provides a detailed account of her fight against lynching and her role in the civil rights movement, including her work with notable figures like W. E. B. Du Bois and Susan B. Anthony. The book offers insights into her experiences as a Black woman in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Is history always political? Who gets to decide? What happens when you challenge common narratives? In this episode, Throughline's Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei explore these questions with Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at the New York Times and the creator of the 1619 Project, which is set to be released as a book later this year.
The U.S. is steeped in wars over history. Historical narratives fuel public policy and discourse. Today, the most dramatic battleground is the 1619 Project. It has pushed people on both sides of the political spectrum to ask how our framing of the past affects the present, to interrogate what we remember and don't remember as a society — and whether we need a shared historical narrative to move forward.
Throughline 
