Back to Ask the Experts Page      Back to NYSCCC Home Page

 A reader writes:

I have a question...what do you think about black and white children in a custody battle and the white parent wins because the child is very light skinned and can pass for white ? There's more, but this is the question I need an answer for.

---

---

John Raible answers:

I think basing a custody decision solely on the color of a child's skin is ridiculous. I would hope that the adults deciding upon the best interests of the children would take into consideration questions such as these:

• Which parent can best meet the diverse needs of the children? (Hopefully and probably, both.)
• Who can teach them about racism and navigating tricky social environments, especially in adolescence?
• How can the two parents co-parent, so that the children can be exposed to their different backgrounds and heritages?
• What kind of community can either parent commit to raising them, so they learn how to exist in an integrated society?

---

---

To share your experience or thoughts on this topic, or to submit another question, please click here.

Back to Ask the Experts Page         Back to NYSCCC Home Page

10/29/03