Embedded Files
“1619” is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery. During COAR Community Discussions, we discussed podcast episodes with the following questions.
Note: Consider using COAR's Discussion Guidelines to ensure all participants feel safe, respected, and supported.
Meeting 1: “The Fight for a True Democracy”
Meeting 1: “The Fight for a True Democracy”
Listen: Episode 1 - “The Fight for a True Democracy” (42:24 min.)
Discussion Questions:
What image comes to mind when you think of a patriot? Has that image changed as a result of listening to this?
How does what we learn in school or our commonly held beliefs about the revolutionary war misrepresent the truth about the founding of our democracy?
How has this episode changed your understanding of the extent of slavery and the contributions enslaved people made to the development of our country?
Meeting 2: “The Economy That Slavery Built”
Meeting 2: “The Economy That Slavery Built”
Listen: Episode 2 - “The Economy That Slavery Built” (31:51 min.)
Discussion Questions:
How did the slave trade expand the US and enable its separation from England and Europe?
What impacts did slavery have on financial systems, both in this country, and across the globe?
How do you now feel about Capitalism? What similarities/differences in the structure of major corporations today (i.e., Amazon) compared to cotton plantations?
Meeting 3: “The Birth of American Music”
Meeting 3: “The Birth of American Music”
Listen: Episode 3 - “The Birth of American Music” (34:25 min.)
Discussion Questions:
What did you learn about the roots of music in America?
How do you see the difference between the influence of different cultures on one another to create new art forms vs. the appropriation of artistic forms without proper attribution?
In what other genres do you recognize cultural appropriation?
Meeting 4: “How the Bad Blood Started”
Meeting 4: “How the Bad Blood Started”
Listen: Episode 4 - “How the Bad Blood Started” (39:11 min.)
Discussion Questions:
What did you learn about discriminatory health care in this country?
What did you learn about the distrust of health care providers and the health care system among people of color?
How does this impact your understanding of the healthcare system today?
Meeting 5: “The Land of Our Fathers, Part 1&2”
Meeting 5: “The Land of Our Fathers, Part 1&2”
Listen: Episodes 5/6 - “The Land of Our Fathers, Part 1&2” (29:16 min. and 36:38 min.)
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Nikole Hannah-Jones chose to end the series with the topic?
When you think of a farmer in the U.S., what image comes to mind? How has this episode impacted that image? What irony is highlighted in this episode about the competence of Black farmers?
What do you know about ways in which structural racism operates in other industries?
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