The Best Episodes of The 1619 Project Season 1

#1 Fan Favorite
6.1/10(217 votes)
#1 - Democracy
S1:E11/26/2023
Told through Pulitzer Prize-winning author Nikole Hannah-Jones’ personal story, historical events and the modern fights for voting rights, “Democracy” explores Black America’s centuries-long fight to democratize America and hold it to its founding ideals.
Director:Roger Ross Williams
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Roger Ross Williams
Writer:Unknown
5.8/10(198 votes)
#2 - Race
S1:E21/26/2023
“Race” examines the construct of race as a political invention created to justify the economic exploitation of African people during slavery and promote white supremacy, while tracing the impact that has had on Black women’s bodies and reproductive lives.
Directors:Shoshana Guy, Naimah Jabali-Nash
Writer:Unknown
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Directors:Shoshana Guy, Naimah Jabali-Nash
Writer:Unknown
6.4/10(139 votes)
#3 - Music
S1:E32/2/2023
From Motown’s wide popularity to funk’s rebellious independence to today’s genre-breaking musicians, “Music” celebrates the “uncapturable spirit” of Black music and maintains that Black music IS American Music.
Director:Christine Turner
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Christine Turner
Writer:Unknown
6.2/10(141 votes)
#4 - Capitalism
S1:E42/2/2023
Nikole Hannah-Jones’ family and current labor battles are the lens for “Capitalism”, which explores how slavery formed the bedrock of American capitalism and how this foundation of brutality continues to permeate our deeply unequal economic system.
Director:Kamilah Forbes
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Kamilah Forbes
Writer:Unknown
6.2/10(103 votes)
#5 - Fear
S1:E52/9/2023
A family’s tragic loss. A dramatic day in the life of a protestor. “Fear” explores how modern policing, surveillance and the criminalization of Black Americans draw roots from the slavery era fear of Black rebellion and centuries-long quest for freedom.
Director:Phil Bertelsen
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Phil Bertelsen
Writer:Unknown
6.3/10(106 votes)
#6 - Justice
S1:E62/9/2023
Through Nikole Hannah-Jones’ family story and one Georgia community fighting for restitution, “Justice” examines the historical events that denied Black Americans the opportunity to build generational wealth and what is owed to descendants of slavery.
Directors:Roger Ross Williams, Jonathan Clasberry
Writer:Unknown
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Directors:Roger Ross Williams, Jonathan Clasberry
Writer:Unknown