Page 3 - 1619 Project Curriculum

Resource Overview:

The 1619 Project, a special issue of The New York Times Magazine, marks the 400th
anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to Jamestown, Virginia with a series of
essays, images, stories, and poems that challenge readers to reframe their understanding of U.S.

history by considering 1619 as the start of this nation's story. Through over 30 visual and
written pieces from historians, journalists, playwrights, poets, authors, and artists, the issue
examines the following questions:

1. How do societal structures developed to support the enslavement of black people,

and the anti-black racism that was cultivated in the U.S. to justify slavery,
influence many aspects of modern laws, policies, systems, and culture?

2. How have resistance, innovation, and advocacy by black Americans over the

course of American history contributed to the nation’s wealth and the
strengthening of its democracy?
This guide offers reflection questions that can be used to support students’ engagement with

The 1619 Project, as well as downloadable PDFs that highlight the following for each piece:
• A quote that captures a central theme
• Key names/dates/terms
• Guiding questions to consider while reading

Reading Guide for The 1619 Project Essays.pdf

Reading Guide for The 1619 Project Creative Works.pdf
Full issue of The 1619 Project.pdf
Supplementary broadsheet from the Times newspaper.pdf

Questions to Consider Before Exploring The 1619 Project:

1. How did you first learn about the history of slavery in the U.S.? What did you learn,
and how was that information presented?
2. What do you see as the lasting legacy of slavery in the U.S.?

3. What do you know about the contributions of black Americans to U.S. society, and
where does that information come from?

4. Referring to the text of the Declaration of Independence, answer the following

questions:

o What are the values stated in the Declaration of Independence?

o In what ways can you see those values working in contemporary American life?

In what ways can you see them failing?
How has the interpretation of those values changed over time? Who is
o
responsible for creating those changes?