This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
Published on September 5, 2019, The New York Times Magazine's '1619' podcast explores the economic impact of slavery in America.
The institution of slavery transformed a struggling nation into a financial powerhouse, with the cotton plantation emerging as America's first big business. At the heart of this system was the whip, a brutal tool used to maintain control over enslaved people.
On this episode, Matthew Desmond, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and author of 'Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,' joins the conversation. Also featured are Jesmyn Ward, author of the novel 'Sing, Unburied, Sing,' and Nikole Hannah-Jones, who writes for The Times Magazine.
Background reading includes Matthew Desmond's article, 'As the large slave-labor camps grew increasingly efficient, enslaved black people became America's first modern workers.' The '1619' audio series is part of The 1619 Project, a major initiative from The Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery.
Listen to the episode and share your thoughts by emailing [email protected]. Follow Nikole Hannah-Jones on Twitter: @nhannahjones.
