Nikole Hannah-Jones blasts media for 'insidious racism' after heavy coverage of Ukraine invasion


The left-wing New York Times reporter and creator of the controversial 1619 Project accused the media of depicting ‘insidious racism’ in its heavy coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – compared to other conflicts – and accused some journalists only have concern for ‘Europeans with blond hair and blue eyes.’

‘Every journalist covering Ukraine should really, really look internally. This is why I say we should stop pretending we have objectivity and in instead acknowledge our biases so that we can report against them. Many of us see the racialized analysis and language,’ Nikole Hannah-Jones tweeted Sunday. 

Hannah-Jones, whose 1619 Project initiative aims to reframe American history by placing the consequences of slavery at the center of the national narrative, also alleged the ‘admissions of shock’ for Ukraine demonstrates racial bias and a lack of attention for ‘peoples not considered white’.

‘Honestly, these admissions of shock that this is happening in a European country are ahistorical and also serve to justify the lack of sympathy for other invasions, other occupations and other refugee crisis involving peoples not considered white,’ she added.

While the journalist blasted the widespread coverage of the crisis in Kyiv, she also noted that people ‘should care about Ukraine’ and that ‘all people deserve to be free’.

Meantime, Ukraine’s health ministry said Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion. The ongoing conflict has forced at least 200,000 people to flee. 

Kyiv and Moscow agreed to hold peace talks on Monday at the border with Belarus, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted he wasn’t confident of a positive resolution.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, left-wing New York Times reporter and creator of the controversial 1619 Project, accused the media of depicting 'insidious racism' in its coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, alleging some journalists only have concern for 'Europeans with blond hair and blue eyes'

Nikole Hannah-Jones, left-wing New York Times reporter and creator of the controversial 1619 Project, accused the media of depicting ‘insidious racism’ in its coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, alleging some journalists only have concern for ‘Europeans with blond hair and blue eyes’

Hannah-Jones made her allegations in a string of controversial tweets published Sunday

Hannah-Jones made her allegations in a string of controversial tweets published Sunday

Despite her claims that the media’s coverage of invasion includes ‘racialized analysis and language,’ Hannah-Jones added: ‘To be clear: We should care about Ukraine. But not because it is European, or the people appear white, or they are “civilized” and not “impoverished.”’

‘All people deserve to be free and to be welcomed when their countries are at war.’

She also noted ‘Europe is not a continent by definition’ and argued it was ‘geopolitical fiction to separate it from Asia.’

‘So the alarm about a European, or civilized, or First World nation being invaded is a dog whistle to tell us we should care because they are like us.’

Her controversial remarks prompted negative response on Twitter.

Sky Media Coordinator Maurice Anton Brown hit back at the journalist, accusing her remarks of being ill-timed.

‘I don’t think this is the time to focus on that. Maybe in a few years from now, but not today, tomorrow, or next week,’ he replied to her post calling on the media to acknowledge its biases. 

Hannah-Jones responded: ‘That’s absolutely ridiculous. Journalists shouldn’t 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?'

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

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

Others applauded Hannah-Jones, citing examples of alleged inaccuracies and racism in the news

‘Thank you for this,’ wrote @THArealKWOODS. ‘I also think its “funny” how folk are on here saying “I didnt know this, thnxBUT the closeness to nuclear war is more alarming than racial implications” We know. We also know how its being reported on is erroneous, and culturally harmful. 2 things can be right.’

Twitter user @Shoes4Indstry, replying to Hannah-Jones, included two examples of alleged racial bias about the conflict in Ukraine.

The social media commenter shared a post from Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin alleging Ukraine was invaded by ‘Soviet dictator Vladimir Putin,’ despite the fact that the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991.

The user also shared a clip of CBS News coverage of the conflict in which the network’s on-the-ground correspondent said: ‘This is not a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan that has seen conflict raging for decades. 

‘This is a relatively civilized, relatively European – I have to choose those words carefully too – city where you wouldn’t expect or hope that it’s going to happen.’

Hannah-Jones' tweets came as Ukraine's health ministry said Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia's invasion. (Pictured: Russian forces taking control of the village of Nikolaevka, Ukraine on Sunday)

Hannah-Jones’ tweets came as Ukraine’s health ministry said Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion. (Pictured: Russian forces taking control of the village of Nikolaevka, Ukraine on Sunday)

Fighting in Ukraine has claimed dozens of civilian lives, forced hundreds and thousands of to flee west and could, according to the EU, eventually displace up to seven million people (Pictured: Refugees from many different countries, mostly students of Ukrainian universities, are seen at the Medyka pedestrian border crossing fleeing the conflict in Ukraine on Sunday)

Fighting in Ukraine has claimed dozens of civilian lives, forced hundreds and thousands of to flee west and could, according to the EU, eventually displace up to seven million people (Pictured: Refugees from many different countries, mostly students of Ukrainian universities, are seen at the Medyka pedestrian border crossing fleeing the conflict in Ukraine on Sunday)

Ukraine and Russia agreed to hold peace talks on Monday at the border with Belarus, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted he wasn't confident of a positive resolution (Pictured: Firefighters inspect the damage at a building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv on Friday)

Ukraine and Russia agreed to hold peace talks on Monday at the border with Belarus, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted he wasn’t confident of a positive resolution (Pictured: Firefighters inspect the damage at a building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv on Friday)

Ukraine war latest, at a glance  

  • Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warns the West’s sanctions on Russia are pushing the Kremlin into WWIII 
  • The EU has unveiled a new package of sanctions against Putin’s regime, closing off its airspace to all Russian planes and banning Kremlin propaganda outlets Russia Today and Sputnik 
  • Kyiv and Moscow will hold peace talks at the border with Belarus, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed
  • The Ukrainian President’s office said the two delegations will meet ‘without preconditions’ near the Pripyat River, to the north of Chernobyl
  • Putin orders forces operating Russia’s nuclear deterrent to be on alert amid simmering tensions with the West
  • U.S. blasts Putin’s nuclear order as ‘unacceptable’ and says war crimes tribunal isn’t off the table 
  • Putin’s desperate troops adopt ‘siege tactics’ after being driven out of Kharkiv by resistance fighters
  • Ukraine’s defence ministry claims Russian death toll stands at 4,300 
  • Ukraine’s health ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion
  • At least 200,000 people have fled Ukraine to three countries, with 150,000 said to have crossed into Poland alone
  • Ukraine’s defence ministry today appealed for foreigners to come forward to join its armed forces and fight back Putin’s army 
  • US and EU have agreed to curtail Russia’s use of SWIFT messaging system, which is vital to for global financial transactions 
  • Iskander missiles were launched from Belarus to Ukraine 
  • Russia acknowledged it had lost troops for the first time today, but did not give a number
  • BP announces it is ditching its controversial 20 per cent stake in the Russian energy group Rosneft ‘with immediate effect 

 

Hannah-Jones has frequently made controversial remarks on her Twitter account. 

Earlier this month she called out civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton over his remarks about rampant petty theft in New York City and accused him of ‘legitimizing the carceral state’.

Last month she slammed Americans who listen to podcaster Joe Rogan, alleging the reason he has millions of followers is ‘not a mystery’ and because of ‘open racism’. The tweet was later deleted, according to Fox News.

In 2020, she accused the New York City government of setting off fireworks ‘to disorient and destabilize the #BlackLivesMatter movement ‘. She deleted the tweet, 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 of to flee west and could, according to the EU, eventually displace up to seven million people. 

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to meet Monday on the border with Belarus, in an attempt to hold peace talks. Although President Zelensky admitted he wasn’t confident there would be a positive resolution, he argued he owed it to his people to at least try and engage.

Zelensky said the two delegations will meet ‘without preconditions’ near the Pripyat River, to the north of Chernobyl, in a deal brokered in a phone call with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. 

The Ukranian president described his discussion with Lukashenko as ‘very substantive’, adding that he had made it clear he did not want troops to move from Belarus to Ukraine and Lukashenko ‘assured him of this’.

The move came as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared, in his own televised address, that he had ordered troops operating the nuclear deterrent onto a ‘special regime of duty’ in light of ‘aggressive statements’ from NATO leaders and ‘unfriendly economic actions’. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg responded: ‘This is dangerous rhetoric’.

Lukashenko also issued a chilling threat Sunday night that the West’s sanctions on Russia are pushing the Kremlin into a Third World War, after Vladimir Putin put his nuclear deterrent forces on ‘alert’.

Additionally, Sunday evening also saw the EU unveil a fresh package of sanctions against Putin’s regime, closing off its airspace to all Russian planes and banning Kremlin propaganda outlets Russia Today and Sputnik. In response to the measures, Russian carrier Aeroflot said it was suspending all flights to Europe.  



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