Blog

The 1619 Project by The New York Times magazine is a powerful examination of how the history of slavery has impacted our culture through today. 

The magazine issue - which was named for the year the first African slaves were brought to American soil - addresses several different aspects of slavery impacting US culture, including our:

• Form of capitalism
• Healthcare system
• Music
• Prison system
• Wealth
• Education

The personal stories in the issue are both heartbreaking and inspiring. Readers are given unique stories that paint a picture of US history from a different perspective - a perspective that many argue has been improperly excluded from our history text books and cultural understanding. 

There has been some controversy around the project. Scholars critical of the work believe that the authors were too informed by ideology rather than objective research. As an historian by education, I understand why new theories are critcally examined by peers. I have not researched myself in order to offer a proper assessment of my own. Critical thinking, leadership, research, and communication skills are needed to examine these topics and share findings, helping to inform how we understand topics and treat others in our communities.

To read the issue, go to https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html.

To listen to the podcast, go to https://www.nytimes.com/column/1619-project.