The 1619 Project is a project by the New York Times that looks to shine a light on the role and massive impact of slavery in the United States, along with African Americansā€™ contributions to the United States.

PresidentĀ Donald TrumpĀ wonā€™t allow California schools to incorporate a curriculum based on the controversial New York TimesĀ 1619 Project. Trump said Sunday that the Department of Education was investigating allegations that California was incorporating theĀ 1619 Project into its lessons. He threatened to take away federal funding if they do. TheĀ New York Times MagazineĀ series makes some dubious claims, including that the American Revolution was fought to preserve slavery. It claims the date of 1619, when slaves first arrived in the colonies, as Americaā€™s true founding. Historians have taken issue with its wilder claims.

Trump tweeted on Sunday that the ā€œDepartment of Education is looking at this. If so, they will not be funded!ā€ He linked to a post that said California had implemented the 1619 program.The Times 1619 project won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary, and the Pulitzer Center has since developed a package that allows schools to teach the projectā€™s lessons GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas claimed theĀ 1619 ProjectĀ is a ā€œrevisionist account of history that denies the noble principles of freedom and equality on which our nation was founded.ā€ He has a bill pending that would prevent schools from teaching theĀ 1619 Project.