Blog post 10 Option #2

According to Roberts, the key factor which is contributing to the racial disparity in the United States foster care system is racism. She cites multiple domains in which this is present.  One fact she presents highlights the implicit bias throughout society and institutionalized racism.  It says, “Once removed from their homes, Black children remain in foster care longer, are moved more often, receive fewer services, and are less likely to be either returned home or adopted than other children” (vi).  An additional theory she presents called the “visible hypothesis” provides an explanation for why cities with smaller black populations actually have more black children in the foster care system.  “Researchers hypothesize that visibility increases the chances of minority placement because agencies are more likely to investigate underrepresented groups or because these groups lack social supports that could ward off investigation” (10).  This suggests there may be some racism contributing to the disparity.  Later she suggests some alternatives to this explanation such as that black parents are, “more likely to abuse and neglect” or that, “higher rates of poverty or unwed motherhood . . . make Black families more vulnerable to state intervention rather than from racial bias on the part of caseworkers and judges” (26).  Roberts uses many statistics in the beginning of the section to highlight racism as the main contributing factor to the racial disparity.  Therefore, she probably thinks this is underlying cause for the large black population in foster care. 

In my opinion, I think that a combination of racism, poverty, and implicit biases are contributing to the racial disparity.  The story of the mother Jornell made me reflect on how black women are portrayed in society.  I found myself recognizing how it may be easier to view black women as unfit mothers simply because of the way they are portrayed in the media.  Poverty is clearly part of the problem as well.  When families are stuck in the cycle of welfare it makes it hard to generate enough income to provide for a family.  As a secondary factor, having less money would make it harder to fight the foster care system.  There are many examples of wealthy people getting around regulations placed on others.  Lastly implicit biases rather than overt racism seem prevalent throughout Robert’s data.  She highlights this when she states, “minority children, and in particular African American children , are more likely to be in foster care placement than receive in-home services, even when they have the same problems and characteristics as white children” (17).

Reanna N.