The Black School Dilemma | EP 56

<p>This week on The Thick, we unpack Nikole Hannah-Jones’ decision to send her daughter to an under-resourced, predominantly Black public school and the complicated decision Black parents face: Is a “good” school worth being racially ostracized?  We unpack this discussion, the intense criticism Hannah-Jones received for her decision, and the tradeoffs Black parents navigate with this decision. </p><p>In the news, we break down the latest developments in the Nolan Wells case, the Cornell sexual-assault case, Title IX rollbacks, and more.</p><p>Then in pop culture: the VMAs, Taylor Swift’s underwhelming new album, and Mariah Carey’s Billboard record somehow being broken by a song we’ve never even heard.</p><p>Education, race, parenting, opportunity, justice, and a little pop culture mess—we’re getting into everything!</p><p>IG, TikTok &amp; YouTube: @thethickpodcast</p><p>Follow our hosts everywhere at @tabriamajors and @damnmindy</p><p><br></p><p>Music Credit: CWatt$</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Sources</strong></p><ol><li>Nearly half a million deaths projected worldwide due to Super El Niño <a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-nino-climate-change-heat-deaths-0a6bb09c708041ec5c705093892443e8">https://apnews.com/article/el-nino-climate-change-heat-deaths-0a6bb09c708041ec5c705093892443e8</a></li><li>Mortgage rates increase <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/24/nx-s1-5977796/mortgage-rates-freddie-mac-homebuying">https://www.npr.org/2026/09/24/nx-s1-5977796/mortgage-rates-freddie-mac-homebuying</a></li><li>Iran negotiations w/ the US <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-iran-set-hold-separate-talks-with-mediators-monday-or-tuesday-official-says-2026-09-28/?">https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-iran-set-hold-separate-talks-with-mediators-monday-or-tuesday-official-says-2026-09-28/?</a></li><li>Airlines cut back on holiday travel <a href="https://travel.yahoo.com/news/articles/flying-home-holidays-3-major-021439505.html">https://travel.yahoo.com/news/articles/flying-home-holidays-3-major-021439505.html</a></li><li>Dept. of Education rollback Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students <a href="https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/ed-dept-officially-kills-biden-rule-that-added-lgbtq-protections-to-title-ix/2026/09">https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/ed-dept-officially-kills-biden-rule-that-added-lgbtq-protections-to-title-ix/2026/09</a></li><li>Grad student loans limited even further <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/grad-students-