About the Author

Nikole Hannah-Jones at a Glance

Full Name: Nikole Hannah-Jones

Pronunciation: nih-KOHL HAN-uh JOHNZ

Born: September 11, 1957

Nationality: United States

Education:

• University of Notre Dame (BA, History and African American Studies)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MA, Mass Communication)

Genres:

• Investigative journalism

Biography & Background

Nikole Hannah-Jones Biography

Born in Iowa, Nikole Hannah-Jones showed aptitude for investigative journalism at a very young age. Her first letter to the editor was published when she was just 11 years old, and she later dedicated her efforts at her high school newspaper to reporting on the experiences of fellow students participating in a voluntary school desegregation program. After earning a BA in history and African American studies and an MA in mass communication, Hannah-Jones spent three years covering resegregation issues at the majority-Black public schools in Durham, North Carolina. Her work consistently focuses on addressing racial injustice and highlighting the marginalized aspects of history.

This deeper goal fueled the work that galvanized her career. She went on to become a well-established and successful investigative reporter for The New York Times Magazine, and earned a Pulitzer Prize for her work on The 1619 Project, an anthology that recontextualizes US history to emphasize the accomplishments and contributions of Black citizens, thereby challenging the traditionally colonialist narratives that dominate history books.