Nikole Hannah-Jones won't sit by and allow Jillian Michaels to spread "harmful nonsense" about the painful realities of ...

Iowa native Nikole Hannah-Jones, who initiated and led The New York Times’ acclaimed collection of writings called The 1619 Project, is pictured at the 2016 Peabody Awards ceremony in New York City.

Hannah-Jones and supporters say politics played a role in the tenure battle. The last two people named to the position at UNC had been granted tenure upon appointment, The New York Times reported.

MARTIN: Nikole Hannah-Jones is the creator of "The 1619 Project." A six-part Hulu series based on the project premieres on January 26. Nikole Hannah-Jones, thank you so much for talking with us today.

Nikole Hannah-Jones speaks during the 137th commencement at Morehouse College on May 16, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images ...

Shoshana Guy, Oprah Winfrey, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Roger Ross Williams attend the Los Angeles premiere event for Hulu's 'The 1619 Project' at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Jan. 26.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones spoke exclusively to "CBS This Morning" in her first interview since she was approved for tenure by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones poses for a portrait at the headquarters of The Associated Press in New York, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) ...

Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, said she will not join the faculty of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill without tenure, according to a letter from her legal team ...