{
  "id": 9340718,
  "title": "Why I’m Sending My Black Son to Private School",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/why-im-sending-my-black-son-to-private-school",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T12:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/public-school-nikole-hannah-jones/688746/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As my son approaches school age, I face a critical decision: where to send him to school. This choice is a privilege afforded to many like me, but it also carries the risk of making the wrong decision. I have often sought the advice of educated Black parents, who often recommend sending their children to high-poverty, all-black schools. This was the approach taken by Nikole Hannah-Jones, whose own experience with deciding where to send her daughter inspired her to write about the struggles faced by middle-class families in neglected institutions.\n\nHowever, when it comes to my son, I know that I cannot make the same choice she made. Having witnessed the poor quality of my own education, I realize that I cannot risk him inheriting the same shortcomings. Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, I struggled with basic grammar and math, and I am still grappling with the consequences of my inadequate education. When my son was learning to speak, I began using pronunciation tools to ensure he didn't inherit my southern accent, but I still worry about the gap between my education and his.\n\nMy nieces, growing up in a similar school district, are dealing with the same issues as I did, and I have seen the tragic outcomes faced by many Black men who rose from difficult backgrounds. Knowing few such Black men, I am particularly concerned about the risks my son may encounter as he grows older. I am vigilant about the types of crowds he may fall into, and the aggressive language used to describe his behavior by teachers.\n\nLast year, the preschool my son attends admitted students with government assistance, making it more diverse. While I welcomed more Black and brown students, I was concerned about potential negative influences. I voiced my concerns to the school, but I still felt apprehensive about the possibility of my son mixing with those from troubled backgrounds.\n\nThis is not a tale about the superiority or inferiority of different parenting choices, but rather a reflection on the state of our educational system. Nikole Hannah-Jones's daughter is thriving in a good high school, and her parents provide her with unwavering support. Instead of focusing on Nikole's decisions, we must be outraged by the educational system that continues to leave so many children behind.\n\nAs James Baldwin noted, \"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.\" I believe it is my duty, especially as a Black woman who has faced adversity, to stand up for all children in need. Though I fear I may be betraying this responsibility by prioritizing my son's well-being, the state of America should not force parents into such difficult choices.",
  "summary": "I admire Nikole Hannah-Jones’s choice. I am making a different one.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}