BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY The Babies They Left Behind Them
On 23rd August 1948, Life magazine published a feature entitled ‘The Babies They Left Behind Them’ which highlighted the ‘brown baby problem’ as the estimated 1,000-2,000 children from the relationships between black GIs and white British women were commonly referred to. Although some of these babies were raised by their white mothers, many others were given up for adoption due to the social stigma of having not only a ‘brown’ child, but one that was usually born out of wedlock. Between mid-1944 and the end of 1947 the government was involved in intensive discussions across its own departments and with voluntary bodies and local medical officials about how to respond to these concerns. The American magazine Newsweek wrote of this matter as presenting an ‘insoluble problem to the British’ in 1947. A widely canvassed solution, particularly amongst black American and black British community leaders, was for the children to be shipped to the US and to live with their fathers or be adopted by black families. This idea, however, was eventually dropped – not only because, under British law, children were only allowed to be sent abroad to live with British subjects but also due to misgivings by officials about the extent of racial discrimination in the US, as well as the impression exporting ‘brown babies’ would give to Britain’s colonies. So the majority of the children remained in Britain, many into state care where ‘their colour made adoption unlikely’ (Smith 1987). The Ministry of Health declined to get involved in the direct provision of homes and hostels, arguing that they should be integrated into existing homes if they could not be cared for by a parent. Pastor G Daniel Ekarte, Minister and Founder of the African Churches Mission, took many these ‘brown babies’ into his homes in Liverpool between 1945 and 1949.
Many of these children are still seeking information about their fathers. Sadly, even when their fathers tried to find them or care for them, their efforts were frequently hindered by either the British or American authorities, such as in the case of Denise Smith’s case, who had been placed in a children’s home. None of her father’s letters were ever passed on to his daughter, Denise and he died before she ever met him.
The Babies They Left Behind Them
On 23rd August 1948, Life magazine published a feature entitled ‘The Babies They Left Behind Them’ which highlighted the ‘brown baby problem’ as the estimated 1,000-2,000 children from the relationships between black GIs and white British women were commonly referred to. Although some of these babies were raised by their white mothers, many others were given up for adoption due to the social stigma of having not only a ‘brown’ child, but one that was usually born out of wedlock. Between mid-1944 and the end of 1947 the government was involved in intensive discussions across its own departments and with voluntary bodies and local medical officials about how to respond to these concerns. The American magazine Newsweek wrote of this matter as presenting an ‘insoluble problem to the British’ in 1947. A widely canvassed solution, particularly amongst black American and black British community leaders, was for the children to be shipped to the US and to live with their fathers or be adopted by black families. This idea, however, was eventually dropped – not only because, under British law, children were only allowed to be sent abroad to live with British subjects but also due to misgivings by officials about the extent of racial discrimination in the US, as well as the impression exporting ‘brown babies’ would give to Britain’s colonies. So the majority of the children remained in Britain, many into state care where ‘their colour made adoption unlikely’ (Smith 1987). The Ministry of Health declined to get involved in the direct provision of homes and hostels, arguing that they should be integrated into existing homes if they could not be cared for by a parent. Pastor G Daniel Ekarte, Minister and Founder of the African Churches Mission, took many these ‘brown babies’ into his homes in Liverpool between 1945 and 1949.
Many of these children are still seeking information about their fathers. Sadly, even when their fathers tried to find them or care for them, their efforts were frequently hindered by either the British or American authorities, such as in the case of Denise Smith’s case, who had been placed in a children’s home. None of her father’s letters were ever passed on to his daughter, Denise and he died before she ever met him.
PASTOR DANIELS EKARTE [Born: Calabar, Nigeria 1896 – Died Liverpool,England 12 July 1964]: Community Activist, Anglican Clergy, Social Reformer. Source of photograph - Ebony Magazine
.
Pastor, community activist, and Black leader in Liverpool . Born George Daniel, Daniels Ekarte worked as an errand boy with the Free Church of Scotland in Calabar, Nigeria. Inspired to become a missionary in England, he left as a galley‐hand on board a ship bound for Liverpool in 1915 . There, instead of encountering a charitable Christian people, Ekarte met with strong racist attitudes and felt deceived by the missionaries in Nigeria. After a period of disenchantment, he began worshipping with Africans, holding prayer services both in private spaces and in the street. With sponsorship from the Church of Scotland, Pastor Ekarte opened the African Churches Mission in Liverpool in 1931 . The Mission was primarily aimed at providing a space of worship and socializing for blacks in Liverpool.
As a community activist and leader, Pastor Ekarte also had a keen interest in the education and welfare of black children. He tried his best to ensure that children would not go hungry, or homeless people go unsheltered. Under him, the Mission became a sanctuary for those in need. As an air‐Raid precautions warden during the First World War , he also provided space for families who had lost their homes. He helped stowaways and black seamen, providing food and sometimes shelter. One of Pastor Ekarte's major accomplishments was the use of the Mission as a home for ‘coloured illegitimate children’, although his efforts to raise funds for a permanent home failed. The breadth of his charity and mission was dictated by the degree of poverty in Liverpool. Intimately connected to his charitable activities was a political concern about race and poverty in British society and the wider Pan‐African world. ~
Oxford African American Studies Centre
PASTOR DANIELS EKARTE [Born: Calabar, Nigeria 1896 – Died Liverpool,England 12 July 1964]: Community Activist, Anglican Clergy, Social Reformer. Source of photograph - Ebony Magazine
.
Pastor, community activist, and Black leader in Liverpool . Born George Daniel, Daniels Ekarte worked as an errand boy with the Free Church of Scotland in Calabar, Nigeria. Inspired to become a missionary in England, he left as a galley‐hand on board a ship bound for Liverpool in 1915 . There, instead of encountering a charitable Christian people, Ekarte met with strong racist attitudes and felt deceived by the missionaries in Nigeria. After a period of disenchantment, he began worshipping with Africans, holding prayer services both in private spaces and in the street. With sponsorship from the Church of Scotland, Pastor Ekarte opened the African Churches Mission in Liverpool in 1931 . The Mission was primarily aimed at providing a space of worship and socializing for blacks in Liverpool.
As a community activist and leader, Pastor Ekarte also had a keen interest in the education and welfare of black children. He tried his best to ensure that children would not go hungry, or homeless people go unsheltered. Under him, the Mission became a sanctuary for those in need. As an air‐Raid precautions warden during the First World War , he also provided space for families who had lost their homes. He helped stowaways and black seamen, providing food and sometimes shelter. One of Pastor Ekarte's major accomplishments was the use of the Mission as a home for ‘coloured illegitimate children’, although his efforts to raise funds for a permanent home failed. The breadth of his charity and mission was dictated by the degree of poverty in Liverpool. Intimately connected to his charitable activities was a political concern about race and poverty in British society and the wider Pan‐African world. ~
Oxford African American Studies Centre
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