Blogpost 10, Option 1

Dorothy Roberts immediately draws the readers’ attention and focus to the unjust actions of the child welfare system within the first pages of Shattered Bonds. Incorporating both factual and statistical evidence along with personal accounts from mothers, Roberts presents strong statements to prove that black families are discriminated against and punished within the child welfare system. First identifying the growing disproportion of Black children in the child welfare system since World War II, Robert then provides evidence on the inferior treatment within the system towards black families.

Of the countless amounts of statistical evidence Roberts presents in the beginning of Shattered Bonds, I found “42 percent of all children in foster care nationwide are black, even though Black children constitute only 17 percent of the nation’s youth” to be the most startling statement (Roberts, 8). She also points out that in 1986, Black children under the age of 18 made up only 15% of the populations but yet constituted over one-fourth of the children entering foster care (Roberts, 8). This racial discrepancy many be reasoned by poverty, instead of race, since the majority of caseloads in the late 1980’s were concentrated in cities containing large black communities (Roberts, 8). And since poverty is most often seen in large, urban areas, it may be an issue regarding lack of resources instead of race.

However, Roberts still continues to provide evidence to how poor black families are being mistreated. Overrepresentation of Black children being placed in foster care is greater in populations where Blacks are the minority (Roberts, 9). This is true for large cities across the country, ranging from the East coast of New York, Midwest Chicago, and Western California. For example, census data is southern California concluded that Blacks “are placed at a rate three times greater than their census proportion” even though they make up 15 percent of the census population (Roberts, 9).

Most important of the evidence provided by Roberts, is how Black children “have the greatest odds of being removed from their homes and the smallest chance of being either reunited with their parents or adopted” (Roberts, 13). This is disturbing, because it would often times be the best interest of the child to be returned to their family, whether it be their birthparents or extended family member. Overall, the striking evidence as to how Black families are discriminated and treated with inferiority be the child welfare system is overwhelmingly convincing. I think it sheds light on the need for better in-home services and less out-of-home care to lessen the number of children being taken away from their families and contributing to the racial disproportion in foster care.

 

-Gretchen