Hulu Gets Green Light To Debut “The 1619 Project” On The History Of Slavery

Hulu is set to create a documentary series based on The New York Times, “The 1619 Project,” which explores the history of slavery in the United States and its longstanding impact on American life.

According to Engadget, Roger Ross Williams, the first African American director to win an Oscar, will produce the docuseries and direct the show’s first episode.

Peabody Award-winning journalist and producer Shoshana Guy will be the showrunner.

Nikole Hannah-Jones is the creator of the project and is a New York Times writer who won a Pulitzer Prize for her introductory essay in the series. The 1619 Project began publication in August 2019 and includes various articles, poems, fiction, live events, and a podcast.

The project marked the 400th anniversary of the first ships carrying enslaved Africans arriving in what is now the United States of America.

“The 1619 Project is an essential reframing of American history,” Williams said in a statement. “Our most cherished ideals and achievements cannot be understood without acknowledging both systemic racism and the contributions of Black Americans. And this isn’t just about the past — Black people are still fighting against both the legacy of this racism and its current incarnation.”

The New York Times partnered with Lionsgate and Oprah Winfrey last year to create films, TV shows, and other ventures surrounding the 1619 Project.

A release date for the docuseries has not been announced.