It was amazing reading the introduction about
how these mothers got together and want to fight to get their child back. They are
very ambitious to fight s system that they describe it as unjust and cruel. The
few women that got their story told talked about how long it took for them to
be in the process of obtaining their child back, but most of them did not
succeed.
The
child welfare system can be different from what one would think of it. It
sounds like a place where people can get the help that they need, but in turns
it can vary from one race to another. One thing that Roberts pointed out is
that “The child welfare system has always discriminated against blacks” (pg.
7). Black families are more likely to be disrupted from child protection
agency. Once, the child is “Removed from their homes and the smallest chance of
being reunited with their parents or adopted” (pg.13). Also, black children
tend to stay in foster care longer than any other racial groups and they are
more likely to be moving around from one foster home to another and they receive
the least helpful service. Poverty also plays an important role in the foster
care system. There is an association between poverty and abuse as well as
neglect. Even though some of the parents may be unfit at the beginning to care
for their child, they work really hard to go through the process to get their
rights back. Unfortunately, there is always some kind of barrier in the way.
They would have to attend parenting class, go to a psychiatrist/psychologist,
showing that they are capable of caring for their child, getting an apartment,
etc. Again, is it ethical for the foster care system to keep the child and
family apart is they have met there criteria as a fit mother?
Chia C.
Blog Post Reply 10)
ReplyDeleteGreat question Chia. I think that the child should still belong to the mother and if she can prove that she is a fit mother then I think it is unethical for foster care to keep them apart. It seems thought that Roberts is saying that foster care does just that to keep them separated. It’s not ethical that these mothers do not get a second chance. Does the foster care really know what the best interest of the child is? I think that barrier you mentioned is the stigma of black people. Even if a black person works their very hardest to prove themselves others will always use the stigma against them whether it is intentionally or not it may be viewed that way. Just like when we saw the video of the black doll test at a very young age even black children have that stigma. Blacks have to work hard not only to prove that they are a fit parent but, also that they are not like the stigma. This can really affect in how they try to prove to be a fit parent as well. How can the foster care create an ethical test to see if black parents can pass being a fit parent and at the same time pass the test of not having that stigma? Are their ways ethical? I don’t think they would have that answer besides saying that well those are the laws. I really do feel sorry for the blacks who may experience situations like this but cannot do much about it and feel as if they have no support like unwed birthmothers.
-Ka L.