"Economic historian Phil Magness tackles the many falsehoods and misconceptions of the New York Times 1619 Project, a progressive political project that attempts to rewrite the American founding story as one of oppression (1619), rather than liberation (1776). When historical discussions devolve into partisan identity politics, Magness steps up to apply his decades of rigorous scholarship. Magness's critique caused the New York Times to recall and quietly revise portions of the text, including outright factual errors ignored by the editors. But more importantly, the book aims to reignite a worthwhile conversation on the consequences of slavery and abolition in the United States--one based in intellectual humility and factual history, not an ideological agenda"-- Provided by publisher.
Economic historian Phil Magness tackles the many falsehoods and misconceptions of the
New York Times 1619 Project, a progressive political project that attempts to rewrite the American founding story as one of oppression (1619), rather than liberation (1776). When historical discussions devolve into partisan identity politics, Magness steps up to apply his decades of rigorous scholarship.
Magness s critique caused the
New York Times to recall and quietly revise portions of the text, including outright factual errors ignored by the editors. But more importantly, the book aims to reignite a worthwhile conversation on the consequences of slavery and abolition in the United States one based in intellectual humility and factual history, not an ideological agenda.
There is no one better to pick apart the disastrous 1619 Project than Phil Magness. If every classroom that incorporated the 1619 Project into its curriculum replaced it with this book, the country would be better off. Coleman HughesSlavery is part of Americas storyits greatest shame. But abolition is part of Americas story, too. Ignoring the latter isnt just bad scholarship.
Its
brazen deceit.
And more often than not, its done for political reasons.
But that didnt seem to bother the writers at the
New York Times when they launched the 1619 Project in August 2019. Advertised as a journalistic deep dive on the history of slavery, the series promised thematic explorations on a number of topics ranging from the first slave ships arrival in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to the present day.
Independent Institute Senior Fellow and David J. Theroux Chair
Phillip W. Magness was intrigued. What he found, though, was something else entirely.
To say he was disappointed is putting it mildly.
The 1619 Project was riddled with
partisan hysteria, sloppy scholarship, blatant errors of fact and interpretation, and, above all else, an anti-capitalist ideological agenda to make the case for tearing down our free market economy. Worse still, its transformation from intellectual debate to political dogma poisoned discourse on the right
and the left. Angry Twitter mobs canceled and called for the censoring of all critics. Civil discourse and rational thinking became almost impossible.
Almost impossible.
Thankfully,
The 1619 Project Myth boldly sounds the alarm on the
New York Times outright ideological warfare against American history. Its the essential guide to the many lies, distortions, and propaganda peddled by the 1619 Project and its defenders.
Magness writing is cool, calm, collected, and firm. An acclaimed academic and historian in his own right, he debunks and dismantles every myth and blunder of the 1619 Project, including:
- how the 1619 Projects creator Nikole Hannah-Jones twisted history into shallow political propaganda (just in time for election season);
- why the Projects activist defenders rely on sneering derision instead of historical facts;
- why capitalism is not racist
and, in fact, helped free the slaves;
- why reparations are a moral and logistical dead end;
- how the American Historical Association fumbled a chance to protect its institutional integrity and defend real scholarship;
- how Hannah-Jones responded to her critics by ignoring their corrections and making her message even more partisan, political, and anti-capitalist;
- and so much more
In these pages, Magness delivers a long-overdue rebuke to scholars who treat history as a political weapon. History isnt a tool for scoring points. Its a long, complicated, and morally nuanced story that demands
humility,
intelligence, and
moral courage from every scholar who dares plumb its depths.
This is a must-read book on slavery, freedom, and the true American story.
