More than 2,200 registered attendees piled into Reitz Arena to hear Nikole Hannah-Jones’ address for the 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation. This convocation, which reflects Loyola’s commitment to peace, justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, comes at a time when many in the nation are concerned about regressive policies in civil rights. The convocation took place Jan. 27.
Hannah-Jones is known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project,” a book that originally found life as a magazine issue for the New York Times, which she had pitched as a staff writer. The book has reached critical acclaim and has been adapted into a six-part series by Hulu.
In the book, Hannah-Jones looks to reshape the way Americans view the nation’s history of participation in chattel slavery. She claimed that the country at large cannot be separated from this dark past.
Specifically, Hannah-Jones pointed out that Thomas Jefferson had the luxury of freedom when he wrote the lofty ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence.
“His ability to have time to think is because he’s not working in the fields himself. I think it is that constant tension that as a historian Edmund Morgan said, ‘In America, slavery and freedom begin at the same time,’” Hannah-Jones said.
She countered the idea that the United States has become “post-racial,” by comparing the argument to the constitution, which has many devout followers, even centuries after its penning.
“No one ever says that the constitution, even though it’s more than 200 years old, doesn’t impact our society. In fact, you have so-called originalists on the Supreme Court, who believe that a modern society should be governed by the word, by this document,” Hannah-Jones said.
The moderators of the discussion, Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead of the Karson Institute and Dr. David Carey, Loyola History professor, steered Hannah-Jones into pressing questions of discussion. The two gave insight into Loyola University’s connection to slavery and how an 1838 slave trade raised funds for the creation of the university in 1852.
Hannah-Jones also spoke at greater length about the connection between higher education institutions and slavery. She shared her thoughts on what that should mean for the African American college student population.
“I think not a single descendant of slavery should not have to take out a dollar of debt to attend any of these universities,” Hannah-Jones said.
Hannah-Jones echoed a sentiment that Martin Luther King Jr. himself expressed in a Playboy interview. He said that America needed to “own up and write them a check” to Black Americans whose disenfranchisement cost them the opportunities provided to their white neighbors.
Audience member and Notre Dame of Maryland University alum Tyrah Scott found the discussion impactful.
“I think that many of us Black people and people of color are kind of at a strange place. It’s an uncharted territory for most of us, and having someone who is so knowledgeable about our history to make connections for us on where we’re headed and how we can support each other…in the current political climate is really important. I think having her here was an awesome choice,” Scott said.
Loyola University President, Terrence Sawyer J.D., attended the event and commented on how important it is for universities to ask critical questions and wrestle with ideas.
“I think Nikole Hannah-Jones presents really important ideas to consider, to reflect upon, and to discuss, and that’s exactly what we did here tonight. That’s the purpose of a university, that’s always been the purpose of universities in this country,” President Sawyer said.
After trekking through the nation’s grisly slaveholding history and connecting it to the current unprecedented times we are facing, Hannah-Jones left the audience with a rousing call to action. She acknowledged that the flurry of regressive executive orders the public has faced at the hands of Trump is overwhelming. Still, she encourages listeners not to be flustered or to remain silent. She encouraged them to choose a side.
“If you are on the side of justice, you are in the right… There is no neutrality in the face of injustice. Neutrality is picking a side,” Hannah-Jones said.
Hannah-Jones made sure to emphasize that each of us is capable of defending a small piece of this country each and every day.
“Yes, it is a long-term battle, but we all have something that we can be doing every day… Pick an institution and defend it… Instead of letting them exhaust you and trying to stomp out every fire, find that one thing and save it.”
Hannah-Jones received a standing ovation at the end of her talk. To see more from Hannah-Jones, visit her website, Instagram, or read her work on the 1619 Project for the New York Times magazine.
