My friend and former colleague Alex Cox, reflecting on his decision to send his son to public schools, in another follow-up to Nikole Hannah-Jones’ school segregation essay:

I grew up in a small town where the private schools were all religious and highly segregated. The public schools were integrated and the main ones most kids attended. My grandfather went to a segregated public school until his “graduation” at 8th grade, and my mother attended the same segregated school until her 3rd grade year when schools were integrated.

My grandfather used to sit on our porch every day and talk to people as they came by. He had worked hard his entire life, saved money, and had made good investments. One day, members of a local black church visited and asked for a donation for a private school they were starting, which would be attended by many of the black children currently in the public schools there.

His answer to them: “Why would I give money to start a school for our kids when we fought so long for them to be in public schools?”

A terrific response from Alex’s grandfather. Alex is now “heavily engaged” with his son’s public school education. The answer to low-performing public schools isn’t better, segregated private schools. It’s better public schools for everyone.