The left-wing New York Times reporter and creator of the controversial 1619 project accused the media of portraying “insidious racism” in its abundant coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – compared to other conflicts – and accused some journalists of being interested only in “Europeans with blond hair and blue eyes. ‘
“Every journalist covering Ukraine must really, really look inside. That is why I say that we must stop pretending to be objective and instead acknowledge our biases so that we can report against them. Many of us see racial analysis and language, “Nicole Hannah-Jones tweeted Sunday.
Hannah-Jones, whose Project 1619 initiative aims to reshape American history by placing the effects of slavery at the heart of the national narrative, also argues that “acknowledging shock” for Ukraine demonstrates racial bias and a lack of attention to “people, which are not considered white ‘.
“Frankly, these confessions of shock that this is happening in a European country are unhistorical and also justify the lack of sympathy for other invasions, other professions and other refugee crises involving peoples who are not considered white.” she added.
While criticizing the wide coverage of the crisis in Kyiv, she also noted that people “should take care of Ukraine” and that “all people deserve to be free.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s health ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the invasion began. The ongoing conflict has forced at least 200,000 people to flee.
Kyiv and Moscow agreed to hold peace talks Monday on the border with Belarus, although Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has admitted he is unsure of a positive decision.
Nicole Hannah-Jones, a left-wing New York Times reporter and creator of the controversial 1619 project, accused the media of portraying “insidious racism” in covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, claiming that some journalists were only interested in “blond-haired Europeans.” . and blue eyes
Hannah-Jones made her claims in a series of controversial tweets posted on Sunday
Despite her claims that the media coverage of the invasion included “racial analysis and language”, Hannah-Jones added: “To be clear: we need to care about Ukraine. But not because it’s European, or people look white, or they’re “civilized” and not “poor.”
“All people deserve to be free and welcome when their countries are at war.”
She also noted that “Europe is not a continent by definition” and said it was “a geopolitical fabrication to separate it from Asia”.
“So the alarm of attacking a European, civilized or civilized nation or a First World nation is a dog whistle that tells us we should care because they are like us.”
Her conflicting remarks sparked a negative response on Twitter.
Sky Media coordinator Maurice Anton Brown responded to the journalist, accusing her of saying it was untimely.
“I do not think it is time to focus on that. Maybe in a few years, but not today, tomorrow or next week, “he responded to her post, urging the media to acknowledge their bias.
Hannah-Jones replied: “This is absolutely ridiculous. Shouldn’t journalists focus on improving their coverage in real time? ‘
Sky Media Coordinator Maurice Anton Brown hit back at the journalist, accusing her remarks of being ill-timed. Hannah-Jones responded: ‘That’s absolutely ridiculous. Journalists shouldn’t focus on improving their coverage in real time?’
The New York Times’ reporter’s controversial remarks prompted negative response on Twitter
‘Too short-sighted. I understand your perspective but the shock is real and it’s because it’s simply nearer to our own countries and it’s a new dimension here in Europe for young generations,’ Twitter user @tommyberlin7 told the reporter. ‘It’s human to feel more affected when the it’s happening closer to you.’
‘Don’t Forget that Ukraine is a strong country with real democracy and a interest to join UE (sic),’ echoed @AkokaElie.
‘European have one big ideal in which they will always stand for and its freedom. When conflicts are against country Where they don’t see this freedom (of speech and votes) its not the same.’
‘Wow, did you pay any attention to the Syrian war and refugee crisis? Millions of Syrians and Afghans came to Europe. I know, i worked at the refugee camps,’ @leesteffy1 added.
‘Bosnia/Serbia was a civil war. Yugoslavia coming apart,’ argued @Leopard24601.
Others applauded Hannah-Jones, citing examples of alleged inaccuracies and racism in the news.
‘YES! first ground war in 70 years? What about Bosnia?!?!?! How can editors let such rash statements pass? Oh right, no more editors…’ wrote author Tim Riley.
‘I think of when Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization and replied “I think it would be a good idea.” War is terrible everywhere, people should not care more or less just because a war is happening in Europe,’ said @RichardrjMcCoy.
Others applauded Hannah-Jones, citing examples of alleged inaccuracies and racism in the news.
“Thank you for that,” wrote @THArealKWOODS. “I also think it’s’ funny ‘how people here say’ I didn’t know that, thnx BUT the proximity to nuclear war is more worrying than the racial consequences We know. We also know how its reporting is wrong and harmful to culture. 2 things may be right. ‘
Twitter user @ Shoes4Indstry, responding to Hannah-Jones, included two examples of alleged racial bias over the conflict in Ukraine.
The commentator on social media shared a post by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin claiming that Ukraine had been invaded by “Soviet dictator Vladimir Putin”, despite the fact that the Soviet Union was disbanded in 1991.
The user also shared a video from CBS News, covering the conflict, in which the local correspondent said: “This is not a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, where the conflict has been raging for decades.
“It’s relatively civilized, relatively European – and I have to choose those words carefully – a city you wouldn’t expect or hope would happen.”
Hannah-Jones’ tweets came when Ukraine’s health ministry announced on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the Russian invasion began. (Pictured: Russian forces take control of Nikolaevka village, Ukraine on Sunday)
Fighting in Ukraine has claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, forced hundreds and thousands to flee to the west and, according to the EU, could eventually displace up to seven million people. the Medica pedestrian border crossing, fleeing the conflict in Ukraine on Sunday)
Ukraine and Russia agreed to hold peace talks Monday on the border with Belarus, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is unsure of the positive decision.
Ukraine war latest, at a glance
- President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko warns that Western sanctions against Russia are pushing the Kremlin into World War II
- EU launches new package of sanctions against Putin’s regime, closing airspace to all Russian planes and banning Kremlin propaganda publications Russia Today and Sputnik
- Kyiv and Moscow will hold peace talks on the border with Belarus, Vladimir Zelensky confirmed
- The Ukrainian president’s office said the two delegations would meet “without preconditions” near the Pripyat River, north of Chernobyl.
- Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces to be on alert amid heightened tensions with the West
- The United States considers Putin’s nuclear order “unacceptable” and says the war crimes tribunal is not leaving the table
- Putin’s desperate troops adopt “siege tactics” after being driven out of Kharkov by resistance fighters
- The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine claims that the death toll in Russia is 4,300
- The Ministry of Health of Ukraine announced on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed since the beginning of the invasion
- At least 200,000 people have fled Ukraine to three countries, with 150,000 reportedly moving to Poland alone
- Ukraine’s Defense Ministry appeared today to get foreigners out to join its armed forces and fight Putin’s army
- US and EU agree to limit Russia’s use of SWIFT messaging system, which is vital for global financial transactions
- Iskander missiles were fired from Belarus to Ukraine
- Russia has admitted losing troops for the first time today, but did not give a number
- BP says it is giving up its controversial 20 percent stake in Russia’s Rosneft energy group “with immediate effect
Hannah-Jones often makes conflicting remarks on her Twitter account.
Earlier this month, she summoned civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton for speaking out about widespread petty theft in New York and accused him of “legitimizing the state of solitary confinement.”
Last month, she criticized Americans listening to podcast Joe Rogan, saying the reason he had millions of followers was “not a mystery” and “open racism.” The tweet was later deleted, according to Fox News.
In 2020, she accused the New York government of setting off fireworks “to disorient and destabilize the #BlackLivesMatter movement.” She deleted the tweet, the National Review reported, and issued a statement saying it was “irresponsible” to use her platform to promote an unproven theory.
Meanwhile, fighting in Ukraine has claimed dozens of civilian lives, forced hundreds and thousands to flee to the west, and the EU says it could eventually displace up to seven million people.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to meet on Monday at the border with Belarus in a bid to hold peace talks. Although President Zelenski has admitted that he is not convinced there will be a positive decision, he says he owes his people at least to try to get involved.
Zelenski said the two delegations would meet “without preconditions” near the Pripyat River, north of Chernobyl, in a deal reached by telephone with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The Ukrainian president described his discussion with Lukashenko as “very important”, adding that he had made it clear that he did not want troops to move from Belarus to Ukraine, and Lukashenko “assured him”.
The move came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that he had ordered troops to apply nuclear deterrence to a “special duty regime” in light of “aggressive statements” by NATO leaders and “hostile economic action”. . Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg then replied: “This is dangerous rhetoric.”
Lukashenko also made a chilling threat Sunday night that Western sanctions against Russia were pushing the Kremlin toward World War III after Vladimir Putin put his nuclear deterrent forces on alert.
In addition, the EU unveiled a new package of sanctions against the Putin regime on Sunday night, closing its airspace to all Russian planes and banning Kremlin propaganda publications Russia Today and Sputnik. In response, the Russian carrier Aeroflot said it was suspending all flights to Europe.