[ManyTimesBlessed]

To give you background for those of you who don't know me, my husband and I are both CC and we are in the process of adopting a Hispanic child and an an African child. For us, race wasn't a concern. I kind of like the idea of having a multiracial family from around the globe.

Here's my opinion, though:

I would say that if someone honestly is not comfortable with adopting a child of another race, then they should not do it. That person may want to take time for self reflection and decide if they have a racist attitude, but what it comes down to is that it is not best for the child if they are raised by a parent who is not comfortable with their race.

I think that people have a natural desire for their child to look like them. I think that often even though they know the child will not have their features, some parents still want to hold onto that desire by adopting a child who is their race and who may potentially have some of the same features or the same "look". People also have the desire to be a "normal" family. If you adopt transracially then you are going to stand out and no matter how hard you try, some people will never think of you as a normal family. Personally, that doesn't matter to me, but for some people that is a big deal.

I think it is best for adoptive parents to be open to all races and if they find that they have a predjudice against a certain race then they should deal with that issue in their own mind and heart. However, when it comes down to it, each person needs to be honest with themselves about what type of child they feel they can parent. I don't think it is necessarily racism to want to adopt a child who is the same race as you.

Food for thought: we don't criticise an AA couple that wants to adopt an AA baby, so in the same way I don't think that we should be too hard on a CC couple who wants to adopt a CC baby.