1619 Project Founder Expresses Regret Over Daughter's School Choice, Prioritizing Ideals Over Education
Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The New York Times' 1619 Project, has expressed regret over her decision to send her daughter to predominantly Black, high-poverty public schools in Brooklyn, New York. In a new essay for The New York Times Magazine, Hannah-Jones revealed that her now 16-year-old daughter, Najya, felt she did not receive the education she desired. This admission marks a shift from Hannah-Jones's 2016 stance, where she described the choice as an effort to challenge school segregation and believed middle-class families could improve such schools by enrolling their children. The essay details academic shortcomings, including limited homework, inexperienced teachers, and gaps in math preparation that became evident when Najya transitioned to a more academically demanding high school. Hannah-Jones apologized to her daughter, who expressed a wish that her own education had been prioritized alongside broader concerns about educational inequality. This revelation has reignited discussions on school ...