A Note from Tanya
Honoring Heritage, Building Belonging: Black History Month and Foster Care
This Black History Month, we reflect on a powerful truth that echoes through the voices of Black foster youth across North Carolina: identity matters. For African American children and teens in foster care, maintaining connection to their cultural heritage isn't just about celebration—it's about survival, resilience, and wholeness. Research shows that Black children are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, comprising nearly 23% of children in care nationally despite being only 14% of the child population. Yet within these statistics are individual stories of young people seeking mirrors that reflect who they are, where they come from, and who they can become.
The champions of this work are often found in unexpected places. There are foster parents who learn to care for natural hair textures, who celebrate Kwanzaa alongside Christmas, who fill bookshelves with stories featuring Black heroes and everyday families that look like the children in their care. There are caseworkers who fight for sibling placements, knowing that maintaining family bonds helps preserve cultural identity. There are mentors who share their own experiences navigating the world as Black individuals, offering roadmaps that textbooks cannot provide. These everyday advocates understand what Dr. Maya Angelou knew: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." For minority youth in foster care, having adults who honor and nurture their complete identity allows their stories to be told, celebrated, and valued.
History reminds us that the Black community has always created family beyond bloodlines. From the Underground Railroad's networks of safety to the neighbors who helped raise children during the Great Migration, there exists a legacy of communal care that continues today. Foster families who embrace this heritage understand that caring for a Black child means more than meeting physical needs—it means affirming their right to be proud of who they are. It means acknowledging the strength they carry in their DNA from ancestors who survived the unsurvivable. It means preparing them to thrive in a world that may not always see their full humanity.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let us recommit to creating foster care experiences that honor the cultural identities of all children in our care. Whether through diverse book collections, connections to Black churches and community organizations, enrollment in cultural programs, or simply the willingness to have open conversations about race and identity, every action matters. The children in our care are not just part of Black history—they are its future. Our role is to ensure they know their worth, understand their heritage, and believe in their limitless potential.
Tanya McCrimmon
Director of Projects and Grants Management
FFA-NC
