Howard University has announced commitments totaling $20 million from the Ford, John S. and James L. Knight, and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur foundations and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous in support of the education of Black journalists.

Grants include $5 million from the Knight Foundation to establish the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism, to be held by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and 2017 MacArthur fellow Nikole Hannah-Jones; $500,000 of the grant will fund the development of symposia to support journalism students and faculty across historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). A $5 million grant from the Ford Foundation will support the creation and infrastructure of the Center for Journalism and Democracy, with the goal of increasing the number of African Americans entering journalism and enhancing their career-readiness. To be spearheaded by Hannah-Jones, the center will focus on training and helping aspiring journalists gain investigative skills and historical and analytical expertise. The MacArthur Foundation's $5 million grant also will support the center, with up to $1.25 million to be dedicated to supporting the next phase of the 1619 Project, which Hannah-Jones created in 2019 at the New York Times. And the $5 million gift from the anonymous donor will fund the Sterling Brown Chair in English and Humanities, to be held by Howard alumnus, journalist, author, and 2015 MacArthur fellow Ta-Nehisi Coates, and establish the Ida B. Wells Endowed Fund to support the Knight Chair.

The announcement of Hannah-Jones's appointment comes less than a week after the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's board voted to award her tenure following two months of protests by faculty and students over her initial appointment with a five-year contract without tenure.

"It is my pleasure to welcome to Howard two of today's most respected and influential journalists," said Howard University president Wayne A.I. Frederick. "At such a critical time for race relations in our country, it is vital that we understand the role of journalism in steering our national conversation and social progress. Not only must our newsrooms reflect the communities where they are reporting, but we need to infuse the profession with diverse talent. We are thrilled that they will bring their insights and research to what is already a world-class, highly accomplished team of professors."

"I heard a wise man once say, 'A man who hates home will never be happy,'" said Coates. "And it is in the pursuit of wisdom and happiness that I return to join the esteemed faculty of Howard University. This is the faculty that molded me. This is the faculty that strengthened me. Personally, I know of no higher personal honor than this."