Nikole Hannah-Jones' Husband Defends School Choice, Compares Wife to MLK

Faraji Hannah-Jones, husband of New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones, has defended their decision to enroll their daughter in underperforming public schools, comparing the act to the sacrifices made by civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. He stated that history will recognize his wife as a civil rights leader for her work.

"When history looks back on this, she’s going to be one of our civil-rights leaders," Faraji told The Post. "She’s going to be one of the very individuals who stood up. You have to be in it and it requires risk. Martin Luther King, James Baldwin, Ruby Bridges, it all required them to be in it and as a result, things happen."

The couple enrolled their daughter in Brooklyn elementary and middle schools despite having the means to send her to more affluent institutions. This decision, which Nikole Hannah-Jones later admitted in an essay left her daughter feeling "cheated" and behind in reading, writing, and math by high school, was framed by her husband as a deliberate "sacrifice" to uplift struggling schools.

Faraji dismissed criticisms that they were parental "failures," asserting that their daughter's struggles were not a mistake but a consequence of systemic issues within the education system. "Irresponsibility is not on the parents, the irresponsibility is on the institutions that never integrated their schools to begin with," he stated.

He further argued that critics misunderstand the complexities of racism and the purpose behind their choice. "Nikole covered schools for two decades. We knew exactly what we were getting into when we did this. We knew exactly," Faraji said.

Despite his wife's admission of feeling she "failed both my values and my child," Faraji maintained that they do not regret the decision. He expressed confidence that their daughter would ultimately appreciate the experience, emphasizing their ability to advocate for her. "We don’t regret the choice. I think as she gets older, I think she will appreciate it. We knew that my daughter would be fine because she has parents who know how to advocate and intervene on her behalf," he said.

Faraji also praised his wife, calling her "one of the greatest writers of our time" and a "very important piece to our American story."

Nikole Hannah-Jones is known for The 1619 Project, an initiative that reframes American history by emphasizing the central role of slavery and its consequences. The couple resides in a home valued at over $1.5 million in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.