Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal
Abstract
The note argues that the child welfare system perpetuates systemic oppression and commodification of children, particularly targeting African American and poor families, mirroring the exploitation of slavery. The author contends that the Thirteenth Amendment, which prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, should be invoked to reform this system. The current system prioritizes intervention and removal over support, leading to harm and perpetuating racial and economic disparities. The author advocates for a balanced approach that protects children while addressing the systemic exploitation and racial control embedded in the foster care system.
Disciplines
Bankruptcy Law | Constitutional Law | Estates and Trusts | Human Rights Law | Law
Recommended Citation
Kurt Mundorff,
Children as Chattel: Invoking the Thirteenth Amendment to Reform Child Welfare,
1
Cardozo Pub. L. Pol’y & Ethics J.
131
(2003).
Available at:
https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cplpej/vol1/iss1/8
Included in
Bankruptcy Law Commons, Constitutional Law Commons, Estates and Trusts Commons, Human Rights Law Commons