The New York Times magazine this week is completely The 1619 Project,
The 1619 Project is a major initiative from The New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.
It’s long and will take some time to read and digest. But it’s something we need to do. We have never, as a country, come to terms with slavery and how interwoven it is in our history. There have been moments when we almost woke up – the Civil War and then, 100 years later, the Civil Rights Movement – but we have quickly buried what understanding we had gained. We’ve got to do better this time.
And yes, it’s possible that the New York Times can do a brilliant job on this and still screw up on its political reporting.
A copy of the entire magazine here, outside the paywall. The Pulitzer Center also has study materials and curricula for teachers.
Open thread!