On Saturday night, Nov. 2, at NJPAC, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, along with The Inclusion Project at Rutgers, Prudential, and Salvation and Social Justice, presented Nikole Hannah-Jones on the 1619 Project and a Panel on the Role of Slavery in America – and New Jersey.
Marking 400 years since the arrival of Black people in Virginia as captives, Nikole Hannah-Jones’ groundbreaking 1619 Project with The New York Times takes an unvarnished look at America’s relationship with slavery and its lasting impact on American life – and the pivotal role that Black people have played in the dynamic expansion of our democracy as we know it.
According to Hannah-Jones, “The United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie…Without the idealistic, strenuous and patriotic efforts of [B]lack Americans, our democracy today would most likely look very different – it might not be a democracy at all.”
“Without Nikole’s work, most Americans would not take notice of this poignant 400thanniversary of slavery in America,” said Ryan P. Haygood, President & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “Nikole’s contribution to this uncomfortable but critical conversation cannot be overstated, and we were thrilled that she joined us to share her invaluable viewpoint with a sold-out audience.”
Hannah-Jones’ keynote speech was followed by a panel of esteemed experts who situated the conversation here, in New Jersey, which suffers some of the worst racial disparities in America.
The panel, hosted by Marcia Brown of Rutgers University-Newark, included Haygood; Prof. Elise Boddie (The Inclusion Project at Rutgers Law School); Rev. Charles Boyer (Pastor and Founder of Salvation and Social Justice); Marley Dias (Teen activist and creator of #1000BlackGirlBooks); Richard Roper (Public Policy consultant); and Shané Harris (Prudential Financial/Prudential Foundation).
“Whether it’s wealth, criminal justice, or voting rights, Black people in New Jersey face challenges that their white neighbors don’t. All of this can be traced back to slavery and its ugly legacy,” added Haygood.
The panel, which looked at the issue through various lenses, addressed the need to confront America’s original sin and its aftermath head on.
“Nikole’s work beckons us to stop hiding from our history, and to work collectively to repair the devastating damage that slavery and its ugly legacy have left us with,” said Haygood. “Our work at the Institute, in communities and in the legislature, is aimed at doing just that, and to lifting the voices of those impacted by racial injustice so that they can be the solution.”
A livestream of the event is available here.
