Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
In order to safeguard democracy, Nikole Hannah-Jones, a renowned journalist famous for her creation of “The 1619 Project,” emphasized the need for Texans to delve into history.
Conducting the interview Saturday was Kathleen O. McElroy, an acclaimed journalist whose botched hiring at Texas A&M University closely mirrors Hannah-Jones’ denial of tenure at the University of North Carolina.
After being appointed to lead a new journalism program at her alma mater, Texas A&M, McElroy encountered resistance from conservative groups. These groups objected to McElroy’s past efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within newsrooms. Unfortunately, due to this pushback, the university decided to alter the terms of her offer. As a result, McElroy, a former New York Times editor, withdrew her acceptance and reached a settlement with the university for a sum of $1 million.
Hannah-Jones was similarly denied a tenure position at the University of North Carolina last year after her appointment drew criticism from conservatives who disputed “The 1619 Project,” a New York Times Magazine essay published in August 2019 that reexamined slavery and has since been adapted to a book, podcast and television series. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in 2021 banning the teaching of “The 1619 Project” in Texas public schools.
During The Texas Tribune Festival session at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Hannah-Jones openly acknowledged and expressed sorrow over her and McElroy’s collective encounter with academic institutions. She emphasized that their experience did not reflect positively on the current state of higher education.
Hannah-Jones expressed, “Both of us are emblematic of the experiences faced by countless black and brown women in academic or professional settings. Regardless of our respective fields, we diligently adhere to all expectations, ticking off all the boxes, striving for excellence. Yet, in the end, it feels like the rug is abruptly pulled from under us as they alter the rules.”
Hannah-Jones stated that she seized the opportunity presented by the UNC controversy not only for personal gain, but also to convey a message.
Hannah-Jones is a tenured professor at Howard University, a historically black research university located in Washington, D.C. She is the founder of the Center for Journalism and Democracy, which aims to advance journalism that is historically-informed and pro-democracy. The center is dedicated to supporting journalism students at historically Black colleges and universities by providing them with valuable resources.
Contrary to popular belief, according to Hannah-Jones, who has a history major, democracy has been present in the United States only since 1965, when the Voting Rights Act was enacted to prevent racial discrimination in voting. She further emphasized that the future of democracy depends on the ongoing activism of the next generation.
Hannah-Jones expressed her observation of a societal decline that surpasses anything she has witnessed in her lifetime. She described the current period as extremely disheartening and emphasized the urgency of engaging in the fight for change, as there is no room to simply stand by.
Hannah-Jones highlights the actions taken in Texas, where the governor has prohibited the teaching of critical race theory and recently eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion departments in public higher education institutions. Furthermore, Texas school districts have imposed more book bans compared to any other state. Hannah-Jones believes that these choices, coupled with the recent closure of school libraries in the Houston Independent School District, should be met with greater and more assertive opposition from the public.
Hannah-Jones expressed her disappointment, stating, “It is disgraceful that the governor has the power to shut down libraries and yet there is no constant protest in response. It is crucial for all of us to come forward and advocate for the rights of these children.”
Disclosure: Texas A&M University and New York Times have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
As The Texas Tribune’s signature event of the year, The Texas Tribune Festival brings Texans closer to politics, policy and the day’s news from Texas and beyond. Browse on-demand recordings and catch up on the biggest headlines from Festival events at the Tribune’s Festival news page.
