April 9 …

Nikole Hannah-Jones is an investigative journalist and educator whose reporting and projects have reframed public conversations about race, history, and inequality in American journalism and society.

Born on April 9, 1976 in Waterloo, IA, Hannah-Jones earned a B.A. in history and African-American studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1998, followed by an M.A. in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began her career focusing on education and civil rights at esteemed outlets like ProPublica and “The New York Times Magazine.” Later, she became the inaugural Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University, where she established the Center for Journalism and Democracy.

The most notable achievement of Hannah-Jones is the creation of The 1619 Project, launched on August 14, 2019. This editorial initiative and multimedia franchise centers on the legacy of slavery in the American narrative. The project sparked national debates about history and its teaching, while also facing legislative and cultural backlash. It has evolved into bestselling books, a Hulu docuseries, a children’s book, and various curriculum projects.

Hannah-Jones has been influenced by and collaborated with influential civil rights and journalistic figures, including Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jelani Cobb, as well as legal and academic contributors to The 1619 Project like Matthew Desmond and Bryan Stevenson. She co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting to mentor journalists of color, nurturing emerging investigative reporters through both that network and her teaching at Howard University.

Hannah-Jones has received numerous honors, including the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2017, multiple National Magazine Awards, two George Polk Awards, a Peabody Award, NAACP Image Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award for the 1619 docuseries. These honors recognize her journalistic excellence and the significant impact her work has had on education, public discourse, and the diversification of investigative reporting.

Nikole Hannah-Jones remains a defining voice reshaping how the nation confronts its racial history and educates future generations.