The New York Times 1619 Project: A Racialist Falsification of History

The New York Times 1619 Project is a deeply flawed and misleading account of American history that advances a radical racialist ideology. This article provides a detailed critique of the project's central claims and exposes its historical inaccuracies and ideological biases. By challenging the 1619 Project's distortions, we can help restore a more accurate and balanced understanding of American history.

The New York Times’ 1619 Project and the Racialist Falsification of History

by David North

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The Myth of 1619

The 1619 Project is based on the premise that the arrival of the first African slaves in the English colony of Jamestown in 1619 was the "founding moment" of the United States. This claim is historically inaccurate and ignores the centuries of European settlement and development that preceded the arrival of enslaved Africans.

In fact, the first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Roanoke Island in 1585. Over the next several decades, English colonists established settlements along the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Georgia. These colonists brought with them their own culture, institutions, and laws. The arrival of African slaves in 1619 did not fundamentally change the nature of these colonies or the course of American history.

The Racialist Ideology of the 1619 Project

The 1619 Project is not merely a historical account; it is also a political manifesto. The project's authors explicitly state that their goal is to "reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the national narrative." This goal is not based on a dispassionate analysis of the past, but on a radical racialist ideology that sees America as a fundamentally racist society.

The 1619 Project's authors argue that slavery was not a peripheral institution in American history, but rather the central organizing principle of American society. They claim that slavery shaped every aspect of American life, from the economy to the political system to the culture. This claim is not supported by the historical record. Slavery was a terrible evil, but it was not the defining characteristic of American history.

The Historical Inaccuracies of the 1619 Project

In addition to its ideological biases, the 1619 Project is also riddled with historical inaccuracies. For example, the project claims that the American Revolution was fought primarily to preserve slavery. This claim is simply not true. The American Revolution was fought for a variety of reasons, including taxation without representation, British military abuses, and the colonists' desire for self-government. Slavery was not a major issue in the lead-up to the Revolution, and it was not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

Another example of the 1619 Project's historical inaccuracies is its claim that the Civil War was fought primarily over slavery. This claim is also not true. The Civil War was fought over a variety of issues, including states' rights, economic differences, and the future of slavery. Slavery was certainly a major issue in the lead-up to the war, but it was not the only issue.

The Dangers of the 1619 Project

The 1619 Project is a dangerous and misleading account of American history. Its racialist ideology and historical inaccuracies have the potential to damage our understanding of the past and to sow division in the present. We must reject the 1619 Project and its false narrative of American history.

We must instead embrace a more accurate and balanced understanding of American history. This history should include the story of slavery and its terrible legacy, but it should also include the story of the many other people and events that have shaped our nation. By understanding our history in its full complexity, we can build a better future for all Americans.

The New York Times 1619 Project is a deeply flawed and misleading account of American history. Its racialist ideology and historical inaccuracies have the potential to damage our understanding of the past and to sow division in the present. We must reject the 1619 Project and its false narrative of American history. Instead, we must embrace a more accurate and balanced understanding of our history, one that includes the story of slavery and its terrible legacy, but also the story of the many other people and events that have shaped our nation.