Iowan Wins Pulitzer Prize for New York Times ‘1619 Project’

Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones, has won the Pulitzer Prize for the New York Times essay she wrote titled ‘1619 Project.'

The board called her work a "sweeping, deeply reported and personal essay." I had the chance to read it, and this piece is truly amazing, and has a strong voice. You can read it here. That part is a quick read, and is straight and to the point. It makes you think and reflect on our history.

The project marked the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans being brought to what became the United States and the impact it had then and now. You can also see why it was published here.

The opening line of their explanation states,

1619 is not a year that most Americans know as a notable date in our country’s history.

I'm someone who has studied history a lot, but this line held true to me. I had never heard about this part of our history. It was again very eye opening and truly can offer the opportunity to think and learn.

Nikole Hannah-Jones offered an educational piece of work, and helped share something not only she was passionate about, but what many Americans are passionate about.

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher, and is administered by Columbia University.