Raquel Nelson’s shocking prosecution reveal a new caricature in the centuries-long demonization of black women. “The thread that joins them is the idea of total sexual immorality and irresponsible reproductive responsibility,” says scholar Dorothy Roberts.

“Black women are seen as harmful to their children and to society rather than as caregivers and as nurturers, except insofar as they do it as paid work, as nannies,” says UCLA scholar Sarah Haley.

The criminal justice system has been especially quick in recent years to slam poor, black mothers.