Nikole Hannah-Jones, a New York Times journalist and founder of the 1619 Project, has reflected on the intense backlash she received for her recent essay on sending her daughter to predominantly Black public schools. The essay, which was published last month, detailed Hannah-Jones' regret over aspects of her decision to enroll her daughter in these schools in an effort to combat segregation.
Hannah-Jones had previously defended her choice to send her daughter to these schools, but in her recent essay, she admitted to feeling "overcome with regret" after her daughter informed her that she did not receive the education she wanted. Hannah-Jones wrote that she had not chosen her daughter's education, and that her child deserved better.
The essay sparked a strong reaction from critics, who accused Hannah-Jones of prioritizing her progressive values over her daughter's education. In an interview with The New York Times, Hannah-Jones acknowledged the intense backlash, describing some of the online responses as "pretty brutal." She questioned whether she should have written the essay, but ultimately concluded that she did not regret her actions.
Hannah-Jones pointed out that her essay has sparked a wider conversation about school segregation and education, with the mayor of New York promising to release a plan to address the issue. She emphasized the importance of using her platform to bring attention to important issues, even if it means facing criticism.
Not everyone has been supportive of Hannah-Jones' actions, however. Corey DeAngelis, a research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, accused Hannah-Jones of minimizing education concerns and using her child as a "prop for a political experiment." DeAngelis argued that school choice is a more effective way to address the issue of underperforming schools, rather than trying to reform them from within.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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