Howard Hires Hannah-Jones

 

Nikole Hannah-Jones reminds us all why HBCUs were created in the first place.

(July 7, 2021) - Howard University offered an olive branch to Jones when her own alma mater, the University of North Carolina, chose not to offer this great talent in journalism a tenured professor position.

[Alumus Ta-Nahisi Coates joins Howard roster]

ICYMI, Jones is the creator of The 1619 Project, a documentary that chronicles the early institution of slavery and its role in shaping the Americas we know today.

Source: The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones.

The Project has garnered both acceptance and criticism. Those who support the vision understand that the truths about slavery have, throughout American history, been either whitewashed, or not taught at all, diminishing the roles and treatment of the African nations who built it.

Slavery, in all fifty states (including the ‘stateless’ District of Columbia) built an economic powerhouse infrastructure that caused the United States of America to flourish - without giving payments or (generational) reparations to the Black bodies who built it.

Hashtag, that’s still a shameful abomination.

Enter Nikole Hannah-Jones. She got a story to tell, and it’s not just about slavery (or is it?).

Jones tells the story of how her beloved learning institution may have had issues with her documentary. UNC passed over Jones for the role of a tenured professor, a position offered previously to other staffers with like credentials. Although UNC did offer Jones the position (which Jones respectfully declined), it was offered only after public outcry. (Story sound familiar?)

Watch Jones speak on it.

Read: UNC staffers speak on it.

Enter Howard University, HBCU.

Howard welcomed Hannah-Jones to its staff as a tenured Knight chair of Race and Journalism.

Said Hannah-Jones, “I am so incredibly honored to be joining one of the most important and storied educational institutions in our country, Hannah-Jones said. “Coming here to teach fulfills a dream I have long carried.”

READ: A History of HBCUs, misconceptions, and why they were created.

UNC isn’t the only PWI that suffers from lack of African American tenured professors.  Just down the road a bit to Virginia Commonwealth University, Black students have been fighting the fight to get more African American tenured professors on its roster.

While some changes have been made, the University still has less than 3% African American tenured professors (outside of its African-American Studies department).

In a statement, UNC Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz claims he wishes Jones well and states, “I am absolutely committed to pressing on and partnering with all those who desire to make Carolina a more welcoming place where every member of our community can realize their full potential.”

Seems he missed an initial opportunity to do just that.

But no worries. Unlike Motown welcoming Bruno Mars, we welcome Hannah-Jones to D.C. and Howard University.