Howard University announced Tuesday that Nikole Hannah-Jones will become a tenured faculty member and the founder of its new Center for Journalism and Democracy.
What You Need To Know
Howard University announced Nikole Hannah-Jones will become a tenured faculty member
The UNC Board of Trustees initially voted not to offer Hannah-Jones tenure but met again last week and changed its mind
Howard also announced that journalist Ta-Nehisi Coats will join the faculty
“I want to hear her perspective on these issues, everything that she has to say about being Black in America and about being Black in academic circles,” incoming Howard freshman, Tyla Mcaffity said.
The UNC Board of Trustees initially voted not to offer Hannah-Jones tenure, sparking protests and accusations of racism on campus. The board met again last week and changed its mind, offering the journalist the appointment to tenure to be the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism.
"It's a very difficult decision, not a decision I wanted to make," she said Tuesday morning. Instead, she said she will take a similar position at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Incoming freshman Kaie Hall reacted to Hannah-Jones’ treatment at UNC.
“It just showed me this is how the world treats Black people sometimes and sometimes it’s not fair but she showed that she got through it,” Hall said.
Mcaffity agrees Hannah-Jones’ experience exposed a bigger issue for the country, and now Howard students will be able to learn from it.
“I for sure will take some of her classes.” Mcaffity said. “I think that Black knowledge should come to Black spaces.”
On Tuesday, the North Carolina Republican Party tweeted, “Nikole Hannah-Jones will no longer be spreading her divisive agenda at UNC-Chapel Hill.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about Hannah-Jones’ decision. Psaki said she hadn’t spoken to President Joe Biden about it.
“The students at Howard are quite lucky to have her and her family, but there’s no question that there continues to be systemic racism in our country, including in some of our learning institutions,” Psaki said.
Howard also announced that journalist Ta-Nehisi Coats will join the faculty. Coats and Hannah-Jones' appointment are supported by $20 million from four donors, according to the university.