Editorials

Editorials, opinion pieces, essays, guest book reviews, and guest blog posts

The 1619 Project, led by The New York Times, is a call to acknowledge our collective history and understanding of the year 1619, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery, as the “true founding” of our nation; and serves to highlight the “consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.” Read Tiya Miles’ contributions to The 1619 Project. Published on August 14, 2019. [NOTE: Each piece is located about midway down the page highlighted with gray background]

“The Black Gun Owner Next Door.” In The New York Times Opinion piece, Tiya asks, “I’m an African-American historian and, on most issues, decidedly liberal. Could I rethink my anti-gun stance?” Tiya highlights the importance of guns in defending the freedom of fugitive and freed slaves and considers the significance of guns in current culture. Published on March 9, 2019.

“My Friend ‘Virginia from Virginia’.” Tiya Miles explores what we can learn about life and ourselves when we’re open to unexpected friendships. The New York Times. Published on December 12, 2018.

“An Olive Branch in Montana.” Opinion in The New York Times, Tiya Miles provides her perspective on race relations and the election victory of Senator Jon Tester in Montana. The New York Times. Published on November 8, 2018.

“Black Hair’s Blockbuster Moment.” Opinion in The New York Times Sunday Review on the cultural significance of black hair in its natural state and its resurgence as a symbol of political consciousness and visionary imagining. The New York Times. Published on February 23, 2018.

“Fighting Racism Is Not Just a War of Words.” Op-ed on the importance of creative protest in combating acts of racism. The New York Times. Published on October 21, 2017.

“The South Doesn’t Own Slavery.” Op-ed on the scope and history of slavery in the United States. Tiya Miles highlights the tendency in our national discourse to confine slavery to the American South. The New York Times. Published on September 11, 2017.

“Free the black slave mistress ghost.” Op-ed on ghost tourism in Savannah, GA. Savannah Morning News/Savannah Now. Published April 1, 2017.

“Trump Plan To Cut NEH and NEA Diminishes Us All.” Tiya Miles warns of what Americans stand to lose if President Trump’s proposals to cut funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts are successful. Huffington Post. Published February 2, 2017.

“Haunted Houses Are About More Than Just Ghosts.”  Tiya Miles reviewed Ghostland written by Colin Dickey for The New York Times Book Review. The New York Times. Published October 27, 2016.

“What Led this Historian to Write a Novel About Indians and Slavery?” History News Network. Published June 28, 2015.

“Questioning Black Religious Faith.” Huffington Post. Published April  7, 2015.

“Old Mountains.” Tiya’s commentary on the play Cherokee by Lisa D’Amour on Medium. Published January 26, 2015.

“Baby Showers, Now and Then.” Huffington Post. Published June 2014.

“Guest post on Historians Against Slavery.” Historians Against Slavery. Published January 2014.

“Black Women, Interracial Dating, and Marriage: What’s Love Got to Do With It?” Huffington Post. Published November 2013.

“Opinion: Black Americans must embrace true colors.” CNN. Published December 2012.

“Opinion: Why focus on Gabby Douglas’ hair?” CNN. Published August 2012.

“Pain of ‘Trail of Tears’ shared by Blacks as well as Native Americans.” CNN’s In America. Published February 2012.

“An Emergency Manager Would Put Belle Isle at Risk.” Huffington Post. Published January 2012.

“Why the Freedmen Fight.” An essay on the New York Times’ “Room for Debate” feature that explored whether the Cherokee Nation’s expulsion of black Freedmen was an act of tribal sovereignty or racial discrimination. The New York Times. Published September 2011.

“We Are Standing on Beautiful History.” The UNC Press Blog. Published August 2010.

“Georgia’s historic sites need funds.” Editorial on the need to preserve Native American historic sites in Georgia. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Published July 2010.