“The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah-Jones
As part of our Racial Justice Initiative, Indivisible OH12 members are sharing relevant book recommendations. Here, Mike Halaiko reviews The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones.
If you have questions or comments, join the conversation in our Facebook group. Thank you, Mike!
Why did you choose this book?
I chose this book because I am continually perplexed and saddened by the ongoing racial divide in this country. Before reading the book, I believed I had a good understanding of how racial segregation and racial animus came about. This book further exposes, in great depth, a perspective of history that many refuse to face or some even deny.
Why do you recommend this book?
I recommend this book because, I (like many of us), have come to understand that we have a crisis with truth in our country. A good portion of the history that has been taught, about the origins of this country, is a partial history, which has been deeply biased in favor of people that wrote and said one thing, but exploited and profited by oppressing and enslaving other human beings.
What surprised you most about this book?
It surprised me that so much of the history of slavery (and just who profited from the free labor of black people), is totally left out of some history text books.
Why do you think members of Indivisible OH12 will be interested in this book?
I think Members of Indivisible Ohio12 will be interested in this book because they are deeply committed to social justice, and they believe that to survive, heal, and prosper as a people, we must not only celebrate the good that we do, but also face our present and past wrongdoings with honesty, and do all we can to right those wrongs.
I highly recommend this book! It has been placed on a list of banned books in some locations, because it addresses so many issues that some do not want to talk about.
As per the author, The 1619 Project is meant to be an ongoing, long range project and came about in 2019, the 400th Anniversary of the first 30 African Americans being brought in chains to our Virginia shores, which is believed to be the advent of chattel slavery in our country. This event occurred ahead of the Pilgrims' landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The book is a series of scholarly essays, poetry, and photography on various topics like democracy, “progress”, and justice. Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer for The New York Times Magazine. The author relates how, as a high school student, she accidentally discovered a book, in the library, that told the story of the 1619 landing. That chance event led to one of her monumental works, this book.