"To the Editor Liu and colleagues1 report that, from 2012 to 2023, Black children in the US experienced persistent and disproportionately high rates of child abuse and neglect, citing poverty as the potential explanation. However, it is essential to acknowledge the impact of anti-Black racism at every stage of the child protective services pathway.

Laws that criminalize material hardship and homelessness launch a cascade effect leading to racial disparities in child maltreatment. Particularly concerning are statutes which explicitly define neglect to include the financial inability to provide for a child. Given that Black families in the US disproportionately experience financial hardship, stemming from historical and contemporary vestiges of exclusion from wealth generation,2 these laws lead to the systematic removal of Black children from their homes at higher rates than White children. This inequity is compounded by the inherent challenges of living in highly disadvantaged communities.2 Black families often receive less economic support even when they qualify, experience greater parental stress, and lack access to high-quality childcare2—all risk factors for maltreatment."