Nikole Hannah-Jones says her 1619 Freedom School in Iowa teaches Black history, not CRT

Nikole Hannah-Jones, lead author of the New York Times’ 1619 Project, is launching a free after-school program in Iowa that combines reading skills with Black history, according to reports.

While Hannah-Jones, a native of Waterloo, specifically said the curriculum does not involve critical race theory, the program’s website describes it as "liberating instruction centered on Black American history." "We're not teaching critical race theory. Parents will opt into the program if they believe in what we're doing. And if they don't, they won't."  "I am proud to have worked with the Legislature to promote learning, not discriminatory indoctrination." Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed a bill into law in June targeting what's described as the "discriminatory indoctrination" in critical race theory – although the law doesn’t specifically ban CRT.