Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 2021)
Decemeber 22, 2021 Page 7 Warning on Democracy ‘Let’s Talk About Race’ Nikole Hannah-Jones Continued from Page 4 history, the teaching of structural racism, with trying to make white children feel badly about themselves or guilty. And so much of the coverage was driven by that. … I hope that there’s going to be some serious examination of the role that we as media played (in) really putting forth and legitimizing what was a propaganda campaign. AP: The 1619 Project is now a book. For people who don’t understand, how is it different from what was published in The New York Times Magazine? HANNAH-JONES: We all know that there has been a tremendous amount of scrutiny of the 1619 Project. … I think those who had questions can now go and actually see the source material, can see the historiography that undergirds the work. For anyone who comes to it with an open mind, it is going to be deeply sur- prising. They’re going to learn so much about both the history of their country, but also the history that shapes so much of modern American life. AP: Some people would say that this is all an agenda-driven piece of work. HANNAH-JONES: And they’d be right. AP: Why are they right? HANNAH-JONES: Because it is. The agenda is to force a reckoning with who we are as a country. The agenda is to take the story of Black Americans in slavery, from being an asterisk to being marginal to being central to how we understand our country. When people say that, though, I know that they’re saying it in disparag- ing ways. I’m just being honest about the nature of this work. … We’ve been taught the history of a country that does not exist. We’ve been taught the history of a country that renders us incapable of understanding how we get an insurrec- tion in the greatest democracy on Jan. 6. AP: What issues do you see as domi- nating our politics in 2022? HANNAH-JONES: I try to never pre- dict the future. And I’m also not a polit- ical reporter. … We, as Americans, are going to be severely tested in the next year or two to decide, what are we will- ing to sacrifice to be the country that we believe that we are? And whose rights do we hold as fundamental in this country? And are all Americans worthy of having those same rights? I don’t think we know the answer to that. But I think what is im- portant for us to know is we decide. Delivery delays? We got you! Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratch-its are the perfect gift for every grownup on your list, even at the last minute. Find them at neighborhood markets, grocery stores and gas stations just around the corner. Take your gift shopping across the finish line with Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratch-its! Visit: oregonlottery.org/holiday to Learn More Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only, not investment purposes. Odds and payout vary by game. KBOO show honored for discussions Lanita Duke “Let’s Talk About Race,” an intergener- ational, roundtable discussion by indepen- dent national journalists, including Lanita Duke, Cecil Prescod and others from Port- land’s activist community, has been hon- ored with 2021 national and international audio content awards. Engaging in rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage regarding the role race plays in politics, government, the economy, education, and health, “Lets Talk About Race” currently airs nationally on the Pacifica Radio network -homebased at KBOO Radio in Portland and archived on SoundCloud . Brown Hope provided seed money for this project. LTAR brings independent journalists from all over the country from Oregon to Texas and Pennsylvania. The hosts bring their own flavor, journalistic perspectives, and integrity to the show. LTAR also in- corporates clips from news outlets from around the Broadcast News world. The roundtable line-up features Lani- ta Duke, award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for over 45 years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news magazine. Althea Billings, current news director at KBOO Community Radio. Cecil Prescod, talk-show host local, national, and interna- tional issues ranging from poverty in Port- land to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host and blogger of The Faith Report and The Woke Church in Pittsburgh, Penn.. Mary Li, the Director of the Multnomah Idea Lab, a think tank in Portland. In 2021, Let’s Talk About Race took home 1st place honors at national and inter- national audio and film festivals including the Hometown Media Awards, Hollywood Women’s Film Institute, The New Cinema Film and Music Festival. In internation- al competitions, LTAR won the Creative Summit International Awards-- Bronze, Let's Talk About Race: Earth Day Show, the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival--Let’s Talk About Race: The Woke Church and Social Gospel Show and the 20th Urban Mediamakers Festival (UMF)- -Let’s Talk About Race (LTAR) Holiday Shows directed by Lanita Duke (United States) - Best Digital Journalism – Winner.
