Sunny Hostin Discusses Challenges of Racism in Private Schools

The View co-host Sunny Hostin shared her perspective on the racism her children encountered while attending “predominantly White” private schools. During a discussion about 1619 Project founder and The New York Times Magazine reporter, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Hostin touched on the topic of educational inequality.

Nikole Hannah-Jones recently reflected on her decision to enroll her daughter in predominantly Black, high-poverty public schools in Brooklyn. She intended to tackle educational inequality but expressed some regrets about her choice. Hostin related to Hannah-Jones’ experience but pointed out additional complications for Black children in “predominantly White” private school settings.

“I think that this is a decision broadly that all parents make when it comes to educating their kids, but … this is a very difficult decision for Black parents, in particular, because I made a very different decision,” Hostin conveyed. She continued, “I sent my children to private schools, a predominantly White private school. So, while they didn’t suffer academically, they excelled, but it was a well-funded school, a private school, well-resourced school, they suffered a different type of pain.”

Hostin described experiences of racism her children faced, including psychological trauma and identity challenges. Her daughter, who has a big afro, faced bullying, with peers attempting to put pencils in her hair.

Although Hostin’s children excelled academically, she expressed worry over a systemic issue impacting predominantly non-White school districts. She raised concerns about the financial disparities between schools in predominantly non-White districts compared to their White counterparts.

Hannah-Jones acknowledged that families with limited resources need more attention. “I hope people concerned about the choice my husband and I made for our daughter will have equal or more outrage for the thousands of Black children whose parents don’t have the resources to send them to better schools,” Hannah-Jones stated. “As I write in the piece, there is no absolution to be had for any of us.”

Fox News Digital reached out to ABC and Ethical Culture Fieldston School for comment but did not receive a response.