Back to Ask the Experts Page Back to NYSCCC Home PageA prospective adoptive parent writes:
My wife and I have started the adoption process through [agency]. My wife is white, and I am half Hispanic and half white. I have experienced the discriminations and racisms like other biracial children growing up in my town did in the 1970's. I did not however, let them define who I am. My family on both sides were very supportive. What I learned from them is not to be pigeonholed or to do the same to other people. They raised me to be American, period. I am not so naive to believe that racism is not out there, but to me the only thing more shallow than a racist is the thought that all white people are racist. Some of the most racist people I know are the so- called "People of Color". [Agency] seems to be discouraging white couples, or in our case, us from adopting a bi-racial child. We love learning any kind of history or culture. And we do not feel like we would be saving a child just because they look different that us.
My question is what is wrong with just being American? Mistakes have been made in our history, and we should learn from those mistakes so that they are not repeated.
John Raible answers:
First, I am confused about how you identify yourself. First you say that you are half Hispanic and half white. Next, you group yourself with "other biracial children." Then you say you were raised to be American. Then you say that the agency you are working with is, to use your own words, "discouraging white couples, in this case us." Last, you mention your desire to adopt a biracial child as if the child would be of a race different from you. So I am not clear how you identify yourself, or what kind of child you are hoping to adopt, or why. Are you biracial or Hispanic or white or American? Or do you claim all these identities? (which of course is another option).
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with "just being American," I suppose, particularly if you have enough privilege to get away with that strategy. But I am not really sure what your question is, or how it is related to transracial adoption, which is the topic of the Ask the Experts feature of this web site.
Perhaps you have some more soul-searching to do before becoming a parent. I know I did before I adopted. Good luck!
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
11/30/04