The Daily

From Opinion: Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Story We Tell About America

Jul 31, 2021

Nikole Hannah-Jones, an award-winning journalist and creator of the 1619 Project, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, acclaimed author and thinker on race, dive deep into America's historical narratives. They discuss the tumultuous debates surrounding the 1619 Project and critical race theory, emphasizing the importance of nuanced storytelling in understanding democracy. The pair illuminates the complexities of African American identity and the ongoing evolution of America's democratic nature, urging for a balance of historical achievements and shortcomings to foster genuine progress.

01:17:53

Creator website

Episode guests

Ta Nehisi Coates

Nikole Hannah-Jones

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Challenging Narratives: Journalism, Democracy, and Education

26min

Navigating the Complexities of History and Identity

5min

America's Ongoing Journey: Identity and Democracy

21min

Exploring the Art of Nonfiction Journalism

5min

Curiosity and Context in Journalism

7min

Navigating Criticism in the Digital Age

8min

Insightful Book Recommendations on American History and Society

3min

You’ve heard the 1619 podcast right here on The Daily. And we’ve covered the backlash to the 1619 Project and the battle over critical race theory that followed. In this interview, Ezra Klein, an Opinion columnist at The New York Times and host of The Ezra Klein Show, speaks with Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates about these skirmishes, and how they have gripped our national discourse. At the heart of the conversation in this episode is the question: How do we understand American history?

Each Tuesday and Friday for New York Times Opinion, Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation on something that matters. Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

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