The 1619 Debate

The 1619 Project is a project developed by The New York Times to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of [the United States’] national narrative”. The project was released in 2019 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the Virginia colony in 1619.

Address what is the controversy surrounding The 1619 Project. Why has it caused so much controversy? Is it simply a matter of fact-checking, or is there a deeper political significance? Next, identify the positions of both sides in the debate. Finally, include your perspective on the controversy and its relevance to current debates on race in modern America.

Utilize these resources:
Adam Serwer, The Fight Over the 1619 Project Is Not About the Facts, The Atlantic, December 23, 2019

Jake Silverstein, “Why We Published The 1619 Project, The New York Times, December 20, 2019

Twelve Scholars Critique the 1619 Project and the New York Times Magazine, History News Network