Analysis Of The Great American Orphan Abduction

The Great American Orphan Abduction is a compelling story that exploits economic, religious, racial, and gender issues in the early 20th century. It follows the story of forty Irish-Catholic orphans from New York being adopted by Mexicans in a small Arizona mining town. These children were considered ulcers to society in the city and were mostly children whose parents were too poor to care for them. The Foundling had visions of a better future for the children out in Arizona. Orphan trains transported the children West and were facilitated by their Catholic nun caretakers. Both racial and gender factors led to posses kidnapping the children from their new homes. The Anglo townspeople did not like the idea of white children being placed in non-white homes. The Arizona Territorial Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Anglos in the trial that followed. Their reasoning was that allowing white children to be adopted by Mexicans was equal to child abuse. Gordon’s analysis shows that women were not as passive in public affairs as some would assume. Mexican women adopted the children, and Anglo women had a hand in the kidnapping and mob activity. Gordon spotlights lessons showing that women had a role in separating racial boundaries. The tragedy of the

Major racially and ethnically structured institutions included slavery, segregation, the American Indian Wars, Native American reservations, Native American boarding schools, immigration and naturalization law and internment camps.[1] Formal racial discrimination was largely banned in the mid-20th century, and came to be perceived as socially unacceptable and/or morally repugnant as well. Racial politics remains a major phenomenon, and racism continues to be reflected in socioeconomic inequality.[2][3] Racial stratification continues to occur in employment, housing, education, lending, and