Jane Lancaster, Ph.D., is an independent historian in Providence, and the author of "Inquire Within: A Social History of the Providence Athenaeum." Contact her at jane@janelancaster.com Rhode Island began its gradual abolition of slavery in 1784, but racial segregation meant it lacked institutions to care for Black people who were struggling. By the 1830s most Black people had been free for one or two generations, but all was not well for the poorest in their community. Poverty was particularly widespread after the financial panic of 1837, yet recently established child welfare agencies at the time restricted their charity to white families. Black children had no ready institutional option other than the harsh municipal poor houses.