Britain’s ‘brown Babies’ : The Stories of Children Born to Black GIs and White Women in the Second World War

This Book Recounts A Little-known History Of The Estimated 2,000 Babies Born To Black Gis And White British Women In The Second World War. The African-american Press Named These Children 'brown Babies'; The British Called Them 'half-castes'. Black Gis, In This Segregated Army, Were Forbidden To Marry Their White Girl-friends. Nearly Half Of The Children Were Given Up To Children's Homes But Few Were Adopted, Thought 'too Hard To Place'. There Has Been Minimal Study Of These Children And The Difficulties They Faced, Such As Racism In A (then) Very White Britain, Lack Of Family Or A Clear Identity. The Book Will Present The Stories Of Over Fifty Of These Children, Their Stories Contextualised In Terms Of Government Policy And Attitudes Of The Time. Accessibly Written, With Stories Both Heart-breaking And Uplifting, The Book Is Illustrated Throughout With Photographs. Lucy Bland. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 255-266) And Index. This book recounts a little-known history of the estimated 2,000 babies born to black GIs and white British women in the second world war. The African-American press named these children ‘brown babies’; the British called them ‘half-castes’. Black GIs, in this segregated army, were forbidden to marry their white girl-friends. Nearly half of the children were given up to children’s homes but few were adopted, thought ‘too hard to place’. There has been minimal study of these children and the difficulties they faced, such as racism in a (then) very white Britain, lack of family or a clear identity. The book will present the stories of over fifty of these children, their stories contextualised in terms of government policy and attitudes of the time. Accessibly written, with stories both heart-breaking and uplifting, the book is illustrated throughout with photographs.This book recounts a little-known history of the estimated 2,000 babies born to black GIs and white British women in the second world war. The African-American press named these children ‘brown babies’; the British called them ‘half-castes’. Black GIs, in this segregated army, were forbidden to marry their white girl-friends. Nearly half of the children were given up to children’s homes but few were adopted, thought ‘too hard to place’. There has been minimal study of these children and the difficulties they faced, such as racism in a (then) very white Britain, lack of family or a clear identity. The book will present the stories of over fifty of these children, their stories contextualised in terms of government policy and attitudes of the time. Accessibly written, with stories both heart-breaking and uplifting, the book is illustrated throughout with photographs Front matter Dedication Contents Acknowledgements List of illustrations Introduction British women meet black GIs Keeping the ‘brown babies’ ‘Brown babies’ relinquished: experiences of children’s homes Adoption, fostering and attempts to send the babies to the US Secrets and lies: searching for mothers and fathers After the war and beyond Appendix: the case study ‘brown babies’ Bibliography Index