In 2019, The New York Times Magazine published a 100-page issue titled “The 1619 Project,” in which journalists, poets, photographers, and more memorialized the 400th anniversary of enslaved Africans arriving in colonial Virginia. Developed primarily by Nikole Hannah-Jones, the issue aimed “to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative,” according to its introduction.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
Now, more than three years after its original publication—which also saw the release of a book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, that expanded on the original essays, an accompanying curriculum for schools, and a Pulitzer Prize for Hannah-Jones—the project is being adapted into a documentary series.
Oprah is supporting the project as an executive producer, along with Hannah-Jones (who also hosts each episode), showrunner Shoshana Guy, Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams, “The 1619 Project” editor Caitlin Roper, and The New York Times’ editorial director for film and television, Kathleen Lingo.
Each of the episodes, which are titled “Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice,” is based on an essay from The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Together, the docuseries’ goal is to observe the ways slavery has informed our modern American society—and impacted everything from healthcare to pop culture.
Below, watch an exclusive clip from the “Democracy” episode of The 1619 Project.
The limited series will premiere on January 26, with the first two episodes streaming solely on Hulu. Two more episodes will be released the following Thursday, and the final two episodes will become available on February 9.
Watch The 1619 Project on Hulu starting January 26.
Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an assistant editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).
