There are some important distinctions here, eloquently made, which are often ignored. But I think you are attacking a strawman if you accuse Ms. Hannah-Jones of not agreeing with you on this. (To say nothing of the numerous other authors in the 1619 project)

The very next line after "our democracy's founding ideals were false when they were written is "Black Americans have fought to make them true". Later on the article says things like "Black Americans have also been, and continue to be, foundational to the idea of American freedom. More than any other group in this country’s history, we have served, generation after generation, in an overlooked but vital role: It is we who have been the perfecters of this democracy.