Karen Attiah

Karen Attiah
Attiah in 2017
Born (1986-08-12) August 12, 1986 (age 39)
Texas, U.S.
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
Columbia University (MIA)
OccupationsColumnist, editor

Karen Attiah (born August 12, 1986) is an American writer, commentator, and editor, formerly employed by The Washington Post. Hired in 2014, she was the founding editor in 2016 for its Global Opinions section, and was elevated to Opinions columnist in 2021 before being fired by the Post in 2025. According to Attiah, she was fired in response to her social media comments referencing Charlie Kirk in the aftermath of his assassination.

Attiah had recruited Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi for the Post's Global Opinions section, and her journalistic responses after he went missing on October 2, 2018, after entering the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, led to her to be named 2019 Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. She and her colleague David Ignatius also received the 2019 George Polk Award in Journalism for their work surrounding Khashoggi's assassination.

Early life

Attiah was born in northeastern Texas on August 12, 1986, to a Nigerian-Ghanaian mother and Ghanaian father.[1][a] Her father was a pulmonologist.[2][b] After graduating with a bachelor's degree in communication studies with a minor in African studies from Northwestern University, Attiah won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Accra, Ghana. In 2012, she earned a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.[1][3]

Career

After graduate school, Attiah became a media consultant for the World Bank's Africa program and worked as a freelance reporter for the Associated Press while based in Curaçao. She was hired by The Washington Post in 2014.[4] In 2016, she became the founding editor for the Post's Global Opinions section and was promoted to the role of Opinions columnist in 2021.[4] Her writing at the Post focused on race, gender, culture, human rights, and international affairs.[1][5] She also hosted TL;DR, a Post video series focusing on identity and global issues, which won the National Association of Black Journalists' Salute to Excellence Award for digital commentary in 2018.[6][7]

Attiah became the focus of international attention in October 2018 when Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist she had recruited for The Washington Post's Global Opinions section, went missing on October 2 after entering the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.[8] In an interview in Marie Claire, Attiah said her WhatsApp was suddenly flooded with "Jamal's missing" messages after his disappearance, and she "started to fear the worst".[9] On October 5, Washington Post Global Opinions let Khashoggi's usual column space in its print edition remain blank.[10] She was interviewed by major news outlets as the primary contact for Khashoggi's last published opinion,[11] and she began writing about his death and advocating for its investigation.[12] Attiah later turned this work into a book about Khashoggi called Say Your Word, Then Leave,[3] which remains unreleased.[13]

Outside of her work at The Washington Post, in March 2024, Attiah became an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. In 2025, Columbia canceled her course "Race, Media, and International Affairs 101". Attiah attributed the decision to Columbia "pre-emptively cav[ing] to pressure", citing it alongside their placement of the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department under receivership after demands from the Trump administration.[14] Attiah instead hosted the course online, calling it Resistance Summer School. Attiah said the course's 500 seats were filled within 48 hours of her announcement, and more than 3,000 people remained on the waitlist.[15]

The Washington Post termination

Attiah announced that she had been fired by The Washington Post in a newsletter post on September 15, 2025.[16][c] According to the official termination letter Attiah received from the Post via email, her "public comments regarding the death of Charlie Kirk violate The Post's social media policies" and constituted "gross misconduct."

The termination letter specifically quotes two posts on the social media platform Bluesky in which she wrote, "Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is...not the same as violence" and "Part of what keeps America so violent is the insistence that people perform care, empty goodness and absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence."[17]

Attiah's only recent direct social media reference to Kirk was a Bluesky post paraphrasing Kirk's comments from 2023 that Sheila Jackson Lee, Michelle Obama, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Joy Reid "do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously", and that they "had to go steal a white person's slot to go be taken somewhat seriously".[18][19][20] Some have since challenged the phrasing of her remarks, claiming she intentionally suggested he was referring to all Black women when he had been referring specifically to the aforementioned four prominent Black female figures.[21][22]

Attiah's statements regarding her firing were reported by a wide variety of news organizations. According to the Poynter Institute, "it did not appear that it was that post, or any one specific post, that led to her firing."[23] The New York Times noted that her posts did not celebrate Kirk's killing.[24] The Independent and The Guardian also noted that Attiah's job may have already been in danger due to confrontations with Post opinion editor Adam O'Neal, who had reportedly offered buyouts to columnists whose work was not aligned with the opinion section's conservative shift announced in 2025.[18][19] Attiah was the Post's last remaining Black full-time opinion columnist prior to her termination[18][25][26]

In her newsletter Attiah wrote, "As a columnist, I used my voice to defend freedom and democracy, challenge power and reflect on culture and politics with honesty and conviction. Now, I am the one being silenced—for doing my job."[19] According to Attiah, the Post failed to initiate a conversation about her conduct before the decision to fire her via email. [27]

The Washington Post Guild, the newspaper's editorial employee union, condemned her firing.[28] Following her termination Attiah has since filed a grievance with the Post, through the Post's labor union, arguing that her social media comments were well-supported within her purview as an opinion writer and permissible under the company's social media policy and labor agreement.[29]The Washington Post declined to comment on her firing, directing reporters instead to their employee social media use standards.[16][18][19]

Honors

Notes

  1. ^ For her birthdate, see also Attiah, Karen [@karenattiah]; (August 12, 2025). "It's my birthday, and as a Ghanaian Tuesday born (Abena), it's a special one— my literal birth-day. I'm a Leo so I love a photoshoot. 😈". Retrieved September 17, 2025 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ See also Attiah, Karen [@KarenAttiah] (April 4, 2020). "I told my dad, a retired critical care doctor/pulmonologist, who spent his career working with ventilators, about @elonmusk's donation of 'ventilators' that turned out to be BiPaP/CPAP machines... Dad: 'Those aren't ventilators!!!' Proceeds to laugh on the phone. 🙃" (Tweet). Retrieved September 17, 2025 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ For her newsletter post, see Attiah, Karen (September 15, 2025). "The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced". The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah. Retrieved September 15, 2025.

References

  1. ^ a b c Kyeremeh, Fred (November 24, 2018). "Meet Washington Post Editor Karen Attiah". Ghanaian American Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Lat, David (April 22, 2020). "Bergen County Native Shares Coronavirus Survival Story". Patch Mahwah, NJ (Interview). Interviewed by Potter, Payton. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Attiah, Karen (October 29, 2020). "'All I Can Do is Tell My Truth'" (Interview). Interviewed by Schiffrin, Anya. School of International and Public Affairs. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Marcus, Ruth; Larabee, Mike; Mumford, Nana Efua (June 17, 2021). "The Washington Post's Karen Attiah Named Opinion Columnist". The Washington Post (Press release). Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Hari, Ravi (September 15, 2025). "Who is Karen Attiah? Washington Post columnist fired over social media posts after Charlie Kirk's shooting". Mint. New Delhi. ProQuest 3250383306.
  6. ^ "Washington Post's 'TL;DR' series wins NABJ award". The Washington Post. August 6, 2018. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "NABJ Names Karen Attiah 2019 Journalist of the Year". National Association of Black Journalists. June 24, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Attiah, Karen (October 18, 2018). "Karen Attiah, Jamal Khashoggi's Editor, on the Writer and His Work". The New York Times (Interview). Interviewed by Grynbaum, Michael M. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Adler, Kayla Webley (October 17, 2018). "'It Shouldn't Be a Crime In This World to Speak Your Mind'". Marie Claire. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  10. ^ "Global Opinions / By Jamal Khashoggi". The Washington Post. October 4, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2025. Editor's note: Jamal Khashoggi is a Saudi journalist and author, and a columnist for Washington Post Global Opinions. Khashoggi's words should appear in the space above, but he has not been heard from since he entered a Saudi consulate in Istanbul for a routine consular matter on Tuesday afternoon.
  11. ^ Fortin, Jacey (October 18, 2018). "In Final Column, Jamal Khashoggi Laments Dearth of Free Press in Arab World". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Politi, Daniel (October 20, 2018). "Jamal Khashoggi's Washington Post Editor on Saudi Statement: 'Utter Bulls––t'". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Nguyen, Alex (October 2, 2023). "HarperCollins Halts Work on Book About Jamal Khashoggi". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 15, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Edwards, Kandiss (April 26, 2025). "Columbia Lecturer Creates 'Resistance Summer School' After University Eliminates Her Course On Race". Black Enterprise. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  15. ^ Parham, Jason (May 2, 2025). "Trump Wants to Erase Black History. These Digital Archivists Are Racing to Save It". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Mastrangelo, Dominick (September 15, 2025). "Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired Over Charlie Kirk Posts". The Hill. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  17. ^ Attiah, Karen (September 20, 2025). "Why Washington Post fired me". The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c d Helmore, Edward (September 15, 2025). "Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired Over Posts After Charlie Kirk's Killing". The Guardian. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d Baragona, Justin (September 15, 2025). "WaPo Columnist Says She Was Fired Over 'Unacceptable' Charlie Kirk Social Media Posts". The Independent. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  20. ^ Rascouët-Paz, Anna (September 12, 2025). "Charlie Kirk once said prominent Black women didn't have 'brain processing power' to be taken seriously". Snopes. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  21. ^ Miller, Dean (September 16, 2025). "Fact Check: Charlie Kirk Quote About "Brain Processing Power" Slammed Four Specific Black Women -- Read Full Quote". Lead Stories. Retrieved September 21, 2025. No, that's not a precise quote: Attacking affirmative action, Kirk slammed by name four prominent liberal Black women . On his podcast, he specifically criticized Rep. Shirley Jackson Lee, D-Texas, TV host Joy Reid, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and attorney and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
  22. ^ Fiallo, Josh (September 15, 2025). "Bezos' MAGA Washington Post Fires Columnist Over 'Unacceptable' Charlie Kirk Posts". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 15, 2025. She wrote, partially quoting Kirk from a 2023 episode of his show: 'Black women do not have the brain processing power to be taken seriously. You have to go steal a white person's spot.' That is not an exact quote. Attiah's critics pointed out that Kirk had been speaking specifically about liberal Black women such as Michelle Obama and former Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee—who have said that affirmative action gave them an opportunity to prove themselves—but was not addressing all 'Black women,' and never said as such.
  23. ^ Jones, Tom (September 16, 2025). "A Washington Post columnist was fired following social media posts about Charlie Kirk's killing". Poynter Institute. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  24. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (September 15, 2025). "Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired for Posts After Charlie Kirk Shooting". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  25. ^ DELAHANTY, EMMA (September 25, 2025). "Karen Attiah, Washington Post's last Black full-time opinion columnist, stands ten toes down after firing". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  26. ^ "WaPo columnist says she was fired over 'unacceptable' Charlie Kirk social media posts". The Independent. September 15, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  27. ^ Mastrangelo, Dominick (September 15, 2025). "Washington Post columnist says she was fired over Charlie Kirk posts". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 4, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  28. ^ Reed, Brad (September 15, 2025). "Washington Post Union Speaks Out Against Columnist's Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments". Common Dreams. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  29. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (September 24, 2025). "Karen Attiah Says Firing by Washington Post Violated Labor Agreement". The New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  30. ^ "Past George Polk Award Winners". Long Island University. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  31. ^ Joseph, Sherene (July 1, 2021). "Photos & Video from the 8th Annual Washington Women in Journalism Awards". Washingtonian. Retrieved January 14, 2024.

Further reading

  • Diamond, Larry; Attiah, Karen; Dunne, Michele; Margon, Sarah; Stephen, McInerney (October 18, 2018). U.S.-Saudi Arabian Relations (CSPAN Special Report) (streaming video). Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution and CSPAN. Retrieved June 16, 2025. The Hoover Institution held a discussion on US-Saudi relations as the investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi continued. Speakers in the first panel talked about implications for democracy and human rights. In the second panel, speakers focused on Saudi Arabia and US-Saudi relations.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Attiah