Inside Interracial Adoption
Adoption in general may be unfamiliar to many. It can be very insensitive to the people it is trying to serve: the children. The process should entail finding the best family for the child who needs one, as opposed to finding the best child for the family who wants one. When the factor of an adoption that crosses racial boundaries is added to the equation, strong opinions may surface. One may begin by asking the basic question: "What is race?" According to Carleton Coon, author of The Origin of Races, "Race is a zoological concept meaning a division of a species. A species is a collection of animals that will breed together when they get a chance..."1 Furthermore, "...race is a relative and comparative term designating, for example, 'white people' versus 'black people.' There is no harm in referring to them as such as long as one realizes that each group is not homogenous but is itself variable and overlapping with some members of contrasting groups."2 The very word "race" becomes difficult to define, since there is no pure strain of white people and black people. For all practical purposes here, it is easiest to use the common definition, which is gauging what race one belongs to based
on distinguishing outward characteristics. Outward appearances obviously are very diverse. The diversity of the couples who adopt transracially is great; there is obviously no one "type."3 The same goes for the motives that urge couples to proceed with an interracial adoption. Why would a couple consider this alternative? How have laws accommodated couples who would like to transracially adopt? What issues should these couples weigh into their decision? Of the many questions that could be posed concerning this topic, these are a few that present a broad overview of interracial adoption. However, the critics of interracial adoption find many more points to argue their point. Many studies have shown positive aspects of transracial adoptions, but most professionals in the adoption field still oppose them.12 The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), has an incredibly negative stance on the issue of interracial adoption. Black social workers, who are very familiar with the way adoptions proceed, have become hostile about the policies of placing black children.13 "[They] accuse some white couples who adopt a black child that their motive to do so is based on the fact that they couldn't get a white baby,"14 and do so in a highly resentful manner. A former member of the NABSW, Cenie Williams, feels that is hard enough for black parents to give their children a positive self-image, let alone white parents attempting to do it. The NABSW has gone on to say, "...black children in white homes are cut off from the healthy self-development of themselves as Black people."15 This organization has even branded interracial adoption as "cultural genocide."16 One social worker that is a member of the NABSW feels that, "Our children must remain in the black community, they belong to us."17 Along with this misguided view, the group mentality of black social workers is that they would rather see black children "placed in permanent foster care, adopted by welfare families, or placed in institutions than be adopted by whites..."18 It would appear that this organization's focus is more politically motivated than on the best interests of "their" children. Laurence Tribe, a liberal Harvard law professor states, "Leaving African-American kids in foster care rather than allowing them to be adopted by loving parents inflicts very serious harm on children."19 There are many organizations that promote interracial adoption. One is Adoption Associates who "strongly believe in and promote transracial adoption."20 Why would a couple consider interracial adoption? The common motivation among almost all adoptive parents is the basic desire to have a child, regardless of race.4 With this fact taken into account, why would a couple want to adopt a child of a different race? Motivations to adopt transracially can be connected to some of the events of the sixties and early seventies.5 Some of those issues include the shortage of healthy white infants and the rais
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2007
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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