Penguin Random House will publish two books based on Nikole Hannah-Jones’ The 1619 Project this fall, the publisher announced in a news release.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, edited by Hannah-Jones and the New York Times Magazine, will be published by Penguin Random House imprint One World, while a children’s book titled The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, written by Renée Watson and illustrated by Nikkolas Smith, will be published by imprint Kokila.
Both books were inspired by Hannah-Jones’ 2019 journalism project, which appeared in the Times Magazine. The project sought to place slavery and its effects at the center of the American history narrative.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story will contain expanded versions of the essays in the original project, along with new essays, poems, and short stories. Contributors include Rita Dove, Yaa Gyasi, Kiese Laymon, Terry McMillan, Claudia Rankine, Jason Reynolds, and Jesmyn Ward.
Born on the Water follows a young student working on her family tree who discovers that her ancestors were brought to America as slaves.
“When we published The 1619 Project in 2019, none of us could have imagined all that it would become,” Hannah-Jones said. “The historic events that have since taken place in our country have only affirmed the thesis of, and necessity for, a project that grapples with how slavery, oppression and the struggle for Black liberation created the country we live in today.”
Both 1619 Project books are scheduled for publication on Nov. 16.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
