1619 founder Nikole Hannah-Jones blasts media for racial bias after heavy Ukraine war coverage
The founder of 1619 has accused the media of only caring about “Europeans” because they are “White” as heavy coverage of the Ukraine warzone continues. Nikole Hannah-Jones took to Twitter to express her views in a series of posts.
The New York Times reporter wrote, “Every journalist covering Ukraine should really, really look internally. This is why I say we should stop pretending we have objectivity and in instead acknowledge our biases so that we can report against them. Many of us see the racialized analysis and language.”
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Every journalist covering Ukraine should really, really look internally. This is why I say we should stop pretending we have objectivity and in instead acknowledge our biases so that we can report against them. Many of us see the racialized analysis and language. https://t.co/Q0bmQzqja4
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) February 27, 2022
And honestly, these admissions of shock that this is happening in a European country are ahistorical and also serve to justify the lack of sympathy for other invasions, other occupations and other refugee crisis involving peoples not considered white.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) February 27, 2022
She also tweeted, “Honestly, these admissions of shock that this is happening in a European country are ahistorical and also serve to justify the lack of sympathy for other invasions, other occupations and other refugee crisis involving peoples not considered white,” before adding: “To be clear: We should care about Ukraine. But not because it is European, or the people appear white, or they are ‘civilized’ and not ‘impoverished.’ All people deserve to be free and to be welcomed when their countries are at war.”
To be clear: We should care about Ukraine. But not because it is European, or the people appear white, or they are “civilized” and not “impoverished.” All people deserve to be free and to be welcomed when their countries are at war.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) February 27, 2022
What if I told you Europe is not a continent by defintion, but a geopolitical fiction to separate it from Asia and so the alarm about a European, or civilized, or First World nation being invaded is a dog whistle to tell us we should care because they are like us.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) February 27, 2022
In one of her tweets, Hannah-Jones noted: "What if I told you Europe is not a continent by definition, but a geopolitical fiction to separate it from Asia and so the alarm about a European, or civilized, or First World nation being invaded is a dog whistle to tell us we should care because they are like us.”
But the 45-year-old investigative journalist’s words were not taken kindly by people on the internet as a user criticizing her wrote, “With us now is Nikole Hannah Jones, widely considered one of the worst historians of our time, to share with us her flawed analysis on the tragic situation playing out in Ukraine. Nikole, thank you for joining us. Please, in your own words, give us your worst take.” Another user commented, “??? Would it be better to ignore Ukraine to atone for racism in our history? Your point is worth discussing in the context of a journalism class in a University. Is it appropriate now? It looks a bit insensitive and like an opportunity to signal virtue.”
With us now is Nikole Hannah Jones, widely considered one of the worst historians of our time, to share with us her flawed analysis on the tragic situation playing out in Ukraine.
— Poo Shoe (@The_AntiWoke) February 28, 2022
Nikole, thank you for joining us.
Please, in your own words, give us your worst take.
???
— Richard Hazel (@richhazel) February 27, 2022
Would it be better to ignore Ukraine to atone for racism in our history?
Your point is worth discussing in the context of a journalism class in a University. Is it appropriate now? It looks a bit insensitive and like an opportunity to signal virtue.
You calling yourself objective or a real journalist is hilarious. I stitched someone up one time, but don’t call myself a Dr. But you are just another person that sounds off knowing your view will get clicks and make you money. You aren’t any different than Rush Limbaugh was.
— Brian Blade (@RealBrianBlade) February 28, 2022
A critic of her tweeted, “You calling yourself objective or a real journalist is hilarious. I stitched someone up one time, but don’t call myself a Dr. But you are just another person that sounds off knowing your view will get clicks and make you money. You aren’t any different than Rush Limbaugh was.”
The second one said, “You don’t think the coverage is because it is two world powers with jets, tanks, etc…? Does media not cover Myanmar because they are black and or more likely due to their position on the world stage? Of course it’s racism and nothing else could it possibly be. Lol.” “Well, you describe yourself as a “reporter.” Where are your products covering: Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Burkina Faso, Rwanda….? I literally could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and……..but you don’t really care,” the third one added.
You don’t think the coverage is because it is two world powers with jets, tanks, etc…? Does media not cover Myanmar because they are black and or more likely due to their position on the world stage? Of course it’s racism and nothing else could it possibly be. Lol
— K. Thom (@TheRealKLHT) February 28, 2022
Well, you describe yourself as a “reporter.” Where are your products covering: Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Burkina Faso, Rwanda….? I literally could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and……..but you don’t really care.
— Andy Gator (@andy_gator) February 27, 2022
You should stop and examine your own motivations every now and then. You seem so caught up in the righteousness of your own world view that you haven’t stopped to consider how off the mark your recent tweets are.
— CRC (@crc817517) February 28, 2022
We are literally standing on the brink of nuclear annihilation and you're still obsessing about this crap. Putin counts on people like you to keep us weak, self hating and divided. I'm surprised he isn't sending you a gratuity (or is he?).
— Madam SUCKretary (@MadamSUCKretary) February 27, 2022
A tweet read: “You should stop and examine your own motivations every now and then. You seem so caught up in the righteousness of your own world view that you haven’t stopped to consider how off the mark your recent tweets are.” Another tweet was “We are literally standing on the brink of nuclear annihilation and you're still obsessing about this crap. Putin counts on people like you to keep us weak, self hating and divided. I'm surprised he isn't sending you a gratuity (or is he?).”