Over the past few weeks there has been a low-humming buzz on dominant media platforms around the release of New York Times Magazine 1619 Project. The lead author, investigative journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones writes that: “The 1619 Project is a major initiative from The New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.” History is a very nonlinear, messing process. Therefore, to pinpoint moments as being the beginning can often lead to more questions. In fact, for most of us, history as a concept is narrowly understood. While there is historical specificity to various events and experiences, we must be careful to not miss the convergence, often, of a series of simultaneous events that contribute to what one may identify as the moment, the origin. If we agree, then Dr. John Henrik Clarke’s definition of history becomes very important to highlight: “History is not everything, but it is a starting point. History is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is a compass they use to find themselves on the map of human geography. It tells them where they are, but more importantly, what they must be.” It becomes very instructive for a critical reader, particularly when reading projects that are developed for public consumption—to always move directly to the sources. The references. The works cited pages. The footnotes. The end notes. Or, if lucky, to the list of supplementary or more information reading lists. To not understand that all writing is political. And that all efforts to tell stories are rooted in epistemic and philosophical frameworks that guide the way we go about doing the work we do, particularly in attempts to quote—tell the whole story—unquote is to miss exactly who is talking and who they are actually talking to, despite who the author or authors of a discourse are. As critical, intentional thinkers who attempt to engage, map, and push forward knowledge of and about the Africana world and its contributions to and relationships with the world; we do not involve ourselves into putting much energy into petty non-substantive critiques of the work or works of others. But we do pay attention. We are cognizant of the various discourses that are promoted. We are interested in ontological and epistemic decolonization processes... Amiri Baraka once wrote: “The actual beginnings of our expression are post Western (just as they certainly are pre-western). It is only necessary that we arm ourselves with complete self-knowledge the whole technology (which is after all just expression of whoever) will change to reflect the essence of a freed people.” Today, AWNP’s Josh Myers explores 1619 in context. Moving the conversation and offering those who’s curiosities have been primed to see the what this 1619 thing is all about. Josh Myers teaches Africana Studies in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. He serves on the editorial board of The Compass and is editor of A Gathering Together: Literary Journal Our show was produced today in solidarity with the Native/Indigenous, African, and Afro Descendant communities at Standing Rock; Venezuela; Cooperation Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi; Brazil; the Avalon Village in Detroit; Colombia; Kenya; Palestine; South Africa; and Ghana and other places who are fighting for the protection of our land for the benefit of all peoples! Enjoy the program! Image & Artist: Emilio O'Farrill