The 1619 Project
Brutally honest series on the impact of slavery in America.
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The 1619 Project
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The 1619 Project is a docuseries expanding on Nikole Hannah-Jones' same-named book. The show focuses on the history of Black people in America, from the roots of slavery to the civil rights era and beyond. It shows how issues from the past are still at work in the United States today. Injustices and systemic racism are explored, but there's also an emphasis on celebrating wins and cultural pride. Archival footage features war violence, guns, and fistfighting, and there are graphic descriptions of racism, brutality, discrimination, and terrorism. Topics that are thoroughly discussed include race, resilience, equality, freedom, justice/injustice, and civil rights.
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What's the Story?
THE 1619 PROJECT follows Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of the book The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, on a journey to trace just how far and prevalent the effects of slavery are in American society. To flesh out the narrative of the fight for freedom for Black people in the United States, she interviews scholars, activists, common citizens, and sometimes even her family. The main topics are democracy, race, music, capitalism, fear, and justice. Hannah-Jones delves into the past, examines the present, and, most importantly, thinks about what the United States will look like in the future.
Is It Any Good?
This series is thorough, intense, and vulnerable. The 1619 Project examines how slavery and the fight for Black liberation in the United States are threaded throughout the past, present, and future. Hannah-Jones has an authentic, intentional interviewing style. Guests come from a variety of backgrounds and provide fullness to an already jam-packed subject. Some archival imagery includes violence, and there are graphically honest descriptions of trauma, racism, and brutality. This might be more suitable for older teens, but parents will have no shortage of discussions to have with their children.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the themes of resilience shown throughout The 1619 Project. How has resilience been shown throughout the various episodes and topics?
What stories stood out to you? Are there any topics or historical events mentioned here that you want to investigate more deeply?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 26, 2023
- Cast: Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Activism
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 14, 2023
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