Hello, I'm City Journal editor Brian Anderson.

Thanks for joining us for the 10 Blocks podcast featuring urban policy and cultural commentary

with City Journal editors, contributors, and special guests.

The 34 schools of the Success Academy Charter Network are among the highest performing public schools in New York City. Success students score in the top 1% in math and the top 3% in reading on statewide standardized tests.

These schools operate free from many of the bureaucratic rules that govern traditional public schools,

and they have excelled, especially in educating New York's poorest kids, many of them African-American.

Today on the 10 Blocks podcast will discuss what role philanthropy has played historically

in improving educational opportunities

for African Americans.

Joining us today is Jason Riley.

He is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow, as well as a columnist for the Wall Street

Journal and a commentator for Fox News.

Jason's New City Journal article, Philanthropy and the Education of Blacks, highlights

the noble history of wealthy American donors who have helped children from disadvantaged backgrounds

improve their life chances. Thanks so much for joining me, Jason.

Thank you, Brian.

We often think of wealthy people who give their money away as being generous and kind-hearted, yet many of

the philanthropists who've donated money and time to improve the education of the underprivileged

are often accused of having ulterior motives. Why do you think that is?

Well, it largely depends on who's doing the accusing. Often the accusers themselves have ulterior motives.

I think that can be shown historically.

When you talk about the Rockefeller family or the Carnegie's or oil barons or, you know,

...