UNC-Chapel Hill Grants Nikole Hannah-Jones Tenure After Backlash | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Jon Brown.

    Nikole Hannah-Jones, a journalist for The New York Times who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work on the 1619 Project, was given tenure by the Board of Trustees at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill after they convened in a closed session Wednesday.

    Hannah-Jones, who assumes her position as Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism on Thursday, was initially denied tenure in the position because of opposition from "conservative groups" with "direct ties to the Republican-dominated UNC Board of Governors," as The Daily Wire previously reported.

    According to NPR, "Some of that opposition came from Walter Hussman, a UNC donor and Arkansas newspaper publisher whose name adorns UNC's journalism school. Hussman, who is also an alumnus, told NPR he was given pause by some prominent scholars' criticism that Hannah-Jones distorted the historical record in arguing that the protection of slavery was one of the Founding Fathers' primary motivations in seeking independence from the British."

    "The case inspired a bruising debate over race, journalism and academic freedom. It led both to national headlines and anger and distress among many Black faculty members and students at UNC. Some professors there have publicly said they were reconsidering their willingness to remain at the university over the journalist's treatment," NPR added.

    According to video, students clashed with police outside the closed-door meeting of the trustees.

    "It has taken longer than I imagined, but I am deeply appreciative that the board has voted in favor of our school's recommendation," wrote Susan King, dean of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media in response to the trustees' decision. "I knew that when the board reviewed her tenure dossier and realized the strength of her teaching, service and professional vision they would be moved to grant tenure."

    Hannah-Jones also issued a statement in response:

• "I want to acknowledge the tremendous outpouring of support I have received from students, faculty, colleagues, and the general public over the last month — including the young people who showed up today at the Board of Trustees meeting, putting themselves at physical risk. I am honored and grateful for and inspired by you all. I know that this vote would not have occurred without you.
• "Today's outcome and the actions of the past month are about more than just me. This fight is about ensuring the journalistic and academic freedom of Black writers, researchers, teachers, and students. We must ensure that our work is protected and able to proceed free from the risk of repercussions, and we are not there yet. These last weeks have been very challenging and difficult and I need to take some time to process all that has occurred and determine what is the best way forward."