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A parent writes:
What are some of the reasons why blacks should not be adopted into white families, or are there any reasons?
Michelle Johnson replies:
Depending upon who you talk to, there are either no reasons European Americans should not be allowed to adopt African American children or many reasons why this practice should not take place.
According to new legislation, most notably the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994, the Interethnic Placement provisions of 1996 etc. it is unconstitutional to use race, color or nation of origin as a basis to place children with parents, except in extenuating situations where the ethnicity of a child can be proven to have more relevance than other needs such as physical and psychological ones.
The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) came out against such placements in 1971, and continue to voice their opposition to such placements. Their stated concerns include the reality of racism, and the belief that European American parents are not equipped to deal with the host of issues their children will face as they grow up in a discriminatory culture.
Most research on transracial parenting finds no differences in the IQ, self esteem or adjustment of children of color raised in European American homes. Therefore such adoptions are believed to be harmless to children. This research provided much of the foundation for legislation in the last 6 years.
As a person who was raised in such a setting, I find this statement to be misleading. When I began my Master's thesis in 1994 I reviewed all the literature, and found no large scale research study which directly addressed the concerns of the NABSW. Close readers of these studies will note that adjustment is the main criteria used to evaluate the success of these adoptions.
My thesis addressed concerns of identity development, and the related and often overlooked concept of community affiliation. In plain English, I was interested in what ethnic identity African American transracial adoptees chose, and how this related to if they had ties in the African American community. While small (a qualitative study of 10 men and women 22-32 years old), my investigation was quite enlightening, and reinforced the realities of my own family.
Answers to ethnic identity included African American and Black, African in Diaspora by one woman. Two men chose non ethnic identities of ethnically white or American. All the women in the study had children with African American or African men, and were living in either mixed or predominantly black communities. None of the men had children or married, or had ever dated African American women, so gender was clearly the defining factor in this study.
One of the important statements John Raible (also a NYSCCC transracial adoption expert) made in the video we appeared in on our struggles for identity can be summed up as follows: Are parents doing this to raise their children as white, or make them conscious, strong contributors to their own ethnic group? 10 years of research and speaking at national conferences tells me that the answer lies in this question. Clearly there are lots of reasons why Black males would either choose to or be forced to relinquish either parts or all of their ethnic identities. Society tells them at every turn that being Black is to be less, if not a deviant dangerous criminal. They are also targeted for jail and homicide in disproportionate numbers. It is only parents who recognize this reality, and the challenges of being a multicultural family (as in realizing you can no longer be just white while raising Black children, including admitting their own racism, advocating for their children with teachers and other adults of authority, providing adult and peers of color, and an environment where an African American identity can flourish in the midst of a racialized country) who truly deserve to adopt these children.
I have met and interviewed many adults who have related horror stories of growing up either with racist parents who emotionally abused them, or ignorant parents who chose denial and rationalization in the face of racism directed at their children. Some of these parents are still unhealthy due to unresolved issues of infertility and it's devastating effects on their marriages, and they transfer this dysfunction to their children in many direct and indirect ways. None of these situations should be tolerated, and I fear the right questions are often not asked, or if unsatisfactory answers are given, parents are approved anyway to lighten ever growing caseloads as more children enter foster care.
I could go on and on regarding this topic, but I think you get the picture. I have many additional readings on the topic and would be happy to forward you a reading list. I am also happy to mail you a copy of my thesis for the cost of printing and postage ($12.00), or discuss these issues with you via e-mail or telephone.
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rev. 3/4/02