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

Torn Apart presents a critique of America's child welfare system through research, case studies, and historical analysis. Professor Dorothy Roberts examines how the system disproportionately impacts Black families and communities. The book documents practices within child protective services and foster care, drawing from interviews with impacted families, social workers, and legal experts. Roberts traces the origins of family surveillance and separation to slavery and tracks its evolution through various government policies and programs. Through data and first-hand accounts, Roberts outlines alternatives to the current system and proposes a new framework for protecting children. The work includes analysis of recent reform efforts and grassroots movements working toward systemic change. The text challenges readers to question fundamental assumptions about child welfare and family preservation while exploring intersections of race, poverty, and state power. Roberts makes a case for reimagining how society supports families and ensures child safety.

Readers describe this as a data-driven examination of racial disparities in child welfare, backed by both research and personal narratives from affected families. What readers liked: - Clear documentation of systemic racism through statistics and case studies - Practical suggestions for alternative approaches and reforms - Accessible writing style that explains complex policies - Integration of historical context with current practices What readers disliked: - Some found the abolition argument extreme or unrealistic - A few wanted more specific solutions - Several noted the content can be emotionally difficult to read Ratings: Goodreads: 4.48/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (240+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Meticulous research that finally puts data behind what Black communities have known for decades" - Goodreads reviewer "Important but hard to stomach the horrific realities" - Amazon reviewer "The abolition argument needs more development, but the system criticism is spot-on" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Dorothy Roberts has been researching and writing about child welfare reform for over 25 years, making her one of the leading scholars in this field. 📊 Black children are placed in foster care at nearly twice the rate of white children, despite studies showing no difference in abuse rates between racial groups. ⚖️ The book reveals that in 2018, over half of Black children in America experienced a child welfare investigation before reaching age 18. 🏛️ The author draws parallels between the current child welfare system and historical practices like slavery and Native American boarding schools, showing how they've perpetuated family separation. 💡 Roberts proposes a complete reimagining of child safety, suggesting community-based support systems and economic resources instead of punitive interventions.