[Archive]

Originally Posted By Keagan

Unfortunately race, rather racism is the leaven that has permutated the soul and essence of this country. I was going to go into a long discourse instead I'll just jump to the chase. While every child needs and deserves a home, is any home for every child? In short we must put ourselves in the child's position. While I know you are not infected or in the stream of America's stream and torrent of racism, it's those other folks that the child will have to confront daily, hence you vicariously since we cannot control or enlighten the dull.

I'm Black and have lived in Switzerland, Cambridge England, and Vermont... I've visited areas where I'm sure I was the first Black person to ever set ground. And because of my various hybrids I did more to confuse them because I wasn't jet black with a baldhead, with the stereotyped exaggerated features. And frankly life was just a breeze. However there are suburbs of Cleveland, Boston and Chicago where racism and arrogance is so dominant that you would swear you were in the scary psuedo-Bible belt south. Then there are the obvious states such as the Dakotas, Idaho, Maine etc. where there just isn't an abundance of people of any color leave alone of color, would it be fair to displace a child in those environments just to provide a home? Let me rephrase that, would you want to be the only black/white child for miles?

And finally consider when the child is older. I used to love attending churches that had the auxiliary singles club/fellowship, oftentimes I was the only black person. Many churches feel compelled to legitimize you. However, when the issue of race and "inter-racial" arises the plot thickens. It's ugly... do you want subject your child to that? I know a wonderful couple who have adopted five black crack children over the years. The private "Christian" school where they "had" them enrolled would pray to their god that she they would disappear. Not only were they uncomfortable with the children race, but the educational challenges. I had wanted to enroll my son in the local Catholic school and while it wasn't an issue of race, he was so far behind that they wouldn't even consider him. At the time I resented it, but in retrospect I understand their position.

Which brings up another point, regardless of the child's hue, most of these kids are significantly delayed. Does your community have the resources to help you? I am still fighting to get my son tested at the university. The plus is at least there is a university approximate enough for me fight with. We're not adopting the kid down the road, these are special kids with "special needs".

What am I saying, I wouldn't recommend that you adopt a black child if you even remotely suspect that he might be uncomfortable and that the child may be mercilessly harassed? Perpetual foster in a heterogeneous or homogeneous environment resembling himself is far better than trying to make Dr. Martin Luther King's dream realized. However, if the schools and community are friendly (I hate that word "tolerant", it is so bloody arrogant) and the child is not an anomaly, go for it!