Righting History with Nikole Hannah-Jones of The 1619 Project

The Foster Podcast

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and the creator and lead writer for the 1619 Project, a NYT initiative that aims to reframe U.S. history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of our national narrative.

Nikole’s reporting on civil rights, specifically segregation in housing and schools, earned her a National Magazine Award, a Peabody, and a Polk Award.

In 2016, she co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, a training and mentorship organization dedicated to increasing the ranks of investigative reporters of color. She's currently working on a book titled, "The Problem We All Live With", which will explore Black America's centuries-long struggle to obtain quality education, and why integrated schools are the heart of our democracy.

On the call we discussed:

• Nikole’s journey from growing up in Waterloo, Iowa to creating one of the most ambitious and impactful pieces of journalism of the century
• Nikole’s inspiration for the 1619 Project and its significance in the current media and political landscape
• Her 2020 Pulitzer Prize-winning piece, which traces the central role Black Americans have played in the nation, including its vast material success and democracy itself
• The critical role investigative journalism plays in holding truth to power
• The planning and coordination behind the 1619 Project, and Nikole’s advice for ambitious writers who want to do important work