Send us a text

Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World

More than anyone else, black women get their children kidnapped by the state, by the child “welfare system”. This episode is about the whys and hows of abolishing a system built to strip families away from their children. 

Through discussing Torn Apart by Dr. Dorothy Roberts, we examine the history and laws that have led to the birth of armed and violent social workers. We also explore the many opportunities around how transformative justice can save lives. 

“Hope is a discipline” - Mariame Kaba

What we discussed 

(00:23) Black women’s childbearing is devalued 

(04:29) What’s family policing?

(07:21) Weaponising child removal 

(14:25) Alternative to the child welfare system?

(19:03) A law that strips away black mothers’ rights, FAST

(33:53) From adoption to murder-suicide

(35:45) Armed social workers? (tragic family policing stories)

(47:48) Is abolition helpful or harmful to children?

(56:33) How to reimagine the system

Links

Torn Apart by Dr. Dorothy Roberts

Shattered Bonds 

We were once a family by Roxanna Asgarian

JMACforFamilies

upEND Movement

Movement for Family Power

Connect with Dr. Dorothy Roberts: Twitter

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected]