About the Author

The author is a white Anti-Racist, Social Justice Advocate. She seeks knowledge and truths surrounding the interconnections of the historical and contemporary issues of racism across the globe.

With knowledge and truth comes responsibility. As a woman who is part of the dominate white culture and a citizen of the world, there is a responsibility to share information that will

lead to a more culturally humble society.

The author at times reacts in an emotionally charged manner but does so with a

good heart and from a good place.

The author is of the belief that there is only one race label and that is the Human Race.


December 13, 2013

From Immigrants Traveling on the Orphan Trains to Children of Color Lingering in the Foster Care System

What happened to the African American children during the Orphan Train tragedy timeline?  Of course most Blacks were denied all social services.   However, unbeknownst to this newly freed community of people, this may have been a blessing considering what was about to happen to their community and family structure to replace organized slavery. Up until the 1930's or so, the African American community cared for their own children whether they were blood related or not.

Newly arrived immigrants and Native Americans were impacted by the English Poor Laws and workhouses in the United States. Charles Brace the founder of the Children’s Aid Society had well-meaning intentions when he thought of a new idea to save poor children. From the mid 1800’s to approximately the 1930’s, as many as 200,000 destitute, white immigrant children were taken from the streets of New York or from over crowed orphanages and brought to Midwestern towns by train in order to find farm families  for the now orphaned children.  Although some children found good homes, others were placed into indentured servant status. Many were victims of severe abuse and/or neglect. Finally all of the children’s ties to their biological families were torn and severed, records were not maintained and their heritage was lost in time. The Orphan Train phenomenon evolved into the development of the formal adoption, foster care laws and child welfare practices in the United States.

Throughout history it appears that a family’s socioeconomic status has been one of many variables that has impacted and is factored into the decision making process regarding risk for abuse and/or neglect of minor children.   During the Roosevelt era the Federal government began funding the states to enlarge the child welfare system.


Now that Federal dollars were being used, the US Constitution needed to be adhered to and states could not discriminate based on you got it…Race.

So now the states had to be inclusive of the African American Community and their children when delivering foster care services. In addition, AFDC benefits which were originally legislated for white mothers whose husbands were serving in the military during war time, was built on the foundation of male exclusion in the home in order to be eligible, collect and maintain these government benefits.  

 AFDC benefits/requirements coupled with the child welfare system's service inclusion of the African American community, resulted in the current disproportionate numbers of children of color, most notably African American and Native American children, lingering in the foster care system.  

Similar to Charles Brace, contemporary child welfare assessment decisions are made based on the caseworkers and social workers intentions whether positive or negative. These decisions are supported based on laws and policies which created institutional structures in this country, where racism is embedded in the cemented foundation.

So how do we derail this runaway train???

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