[candace2006]

I do not want to sound mean, racist, nuts, or all of the above. But, I'm fairly new to this, and I have gone through the archives but have not found a topic like this. So, in all fairness I think it deserves exploring.

I hope everyone is mature enough to take this for what it is, a topic of conversation, and not meant to offend anyone.

People adopting domestically or internationally are usually whites adopting children from other races. This is acceptable both here in the USA and abroad.

But, do you know of a black woman who has adopted a white baby, either here or abroad?

If you are a black woman, would you consider a white baby to adopt?

Thanks.

[mallory4]

Candace, this topic has actually been discussed over and over, I think most recently on the transracial or transcultural adoption boards. If you look over there, you might find the threads.

Good luck!

[punchkin]

Hi Candace, My dh and I are both black. And the answer to your question is YES. Just this past fall we were going to adopt a sibling cc group. G-7months and her brother S 20 months. There were family that came foward at the last minute to claim them. It doesn't matter the color of their skin to us. Love is or should be colorless. We as a people of color come in a multitude of colors from as white as snow[my f- gg-grandfather] to as black as coal [my m-ggg- grandfather]. That's what makes us so special, you just never know what's going to pop out of the oven, so to speak, lol.
Good thread. waiting to hear more responses. I would have never thought about this if it wasn't posted.

[candace2006]

To Punchin: Great response, thanks.

I agree, there shouldn't be a concern about the color of the skin, it's what's in the heart that matters.

But, not everyone sees it that way, and I wonder what the adoption gurus in the USA, Asia, Easter Europe, and Guatemala think on this issue, and whether they allow such types of adoptions.

I just couldn't see why not, since they place kids of all kinds of races in white people's homes.

To Mallory: Where? Remember, I'm new.

[DianeScraps]

I do know of a family that is in the process of adoption a white child (or at least appearing white, bio mom disclosed 'some AA') and the adoptive parents are AA. They have gotten some negitivity within the AA community.

Diane

[Yash]

Candace,

I know of yahoo groups of black parents adopting from Bulgaria, China, Vietnam. I am currently in the beginning stages of adopting from Vietnam. I one day hope to adopt from Russia, but the recent issues FAS is giving me second thoughts.

[manni28]

Ladies:

I am Afro-American adoptee and potential aparent. What I would like to know is why would you want to adoption a child from Europe or Asia when there are afro-american and bi-racial child here in the U.S. that need homes? Also, how would you explain this to your family memebers( some who may not understand) your desires to adopt an European child but not AA or bi-racial?

Manni

[Mandy4President]

Hello everyone,

I am not black (I'm white) and I am adopting from Guatemala...so I am totally intruding on your thread I just thought it was so interesting that I had to read! When we decided to adopt from Guatemala (only because I was not going to deal with the wishy washy adoption laws in the US) our family said "There are so many babies in America that need homes why don't you adopt from here?" I know that I can't totally relate to what you are saying, but I think the idea here is the same. They were saying they didn't agree that we should adopt from another culture...My answer to them was it was our choice and whether they agreed to it or not wasn't their decision. When it comes down to it you are adopting a baby because you want to have a baby and where they come from (or in your case the color of their skin), why should that matter? Although I agree with the previous post that there are so many AA babies out there needing homes, if you have found a baby to love that happens to be another race I don't see why is should matter. Just my two cents, sorry for intruding!

[Yash]

Manni,

I can't speak for everyone but as for me I know I was called to adopt internationally. Through God taking some tragic circumstances in my life and turning them into something good and positive, I'm adopting my first son through my state's fost/adopt program. I have a beautiful, intelligent son whose adoption was supposed to take 6 months, we're now 9 1/2 months past that. His SW says his adoption should be finalized in the fall. My son will be 2 in December. Almost 2 years to adopt! It's insane!

As for private domestic adoption, I don't like the idea of getting my hopes up and then the birthmother changes her mind. That would just crush me, plus I'm not down with open adoption, which more and more domestic adoptions are becoming.

So for these reasons, I'm going where I was orginally called to go. Some places where the referral time is longer, but once I get to Vietnam or China or Guatemala, I know I will have a beautiful, wonderful baby in my arms.

As for what my family says about me adopting internationally, well my mother who isn't pro-adoption now speaks up on that subject for me. After witnessing this ongoing adoption process with her grandson, my mother now understands why people adopt internationally.

[nickchris]

I respect everyone's opinion regarding their choices. If the red tape for Domestic adoption is so exasperating, what about Ethiopia and other parts of Africa, and the Caribbean ie; Haiti? children of color are in need of loving parents all over the world.

[manni28]

Yash:



I can see where youre coming from but, like Nickchris asked: " have you researched africa and the caribbean also?" I, don't know, not to start anything, but for me , as an Afro-American I would much rather adopt a child who shares the same background as myself; since there are so many children here and abroad ,that's what my husband and I plan to do, adopt a child of African descent.

[lovebeingmom2006]

My DH and I adopted an AA infant. We never considered any other race, because there are so many black children waiting to be adopted. We even considered international adoption of a black child. I just think we should help our own first. TO EACH HIS OWN!!!

[traceyk]

A few months back in my Adoptive Families magazine was a black mother of two bio sons and a bio daughter who adopted from foster system a girl. She talked about how she had never seen the girl and got a call that she was bi-racial and the b-father was said to be black but had died before they could do tests and they had doubts about the heritage. She also states how shocked she was when they pulled up with the little girl and she was white as white can be with frckles and strawberry colored hair. She said she felt awkward but went ahead with the adoption. They did show a picture of the family and I must say, no wonder they had doubts. But, they are happy and healthy as a family and that is what counts.

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by nickchris

I respect everyone's opinion regarding their choices. If the red tape for Domestic adoption is so exasperating, what about Ethiopia and other parts of Africa, and the Caribbean ie; Haiti? children of color are in need of loving parents all over the world.

Haiti has some wonderful adoption programs. And fortunately, they don't charge outrageous orphanage fees like some Eastern European orphanages. I always thought that I would eventually adopt from that country. Maybe next time.

[Yash]

Manni,

I vaguely looked into Haiti, Ethopia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, but my heart is not there. I believe adoption is a gift from God, like being a missionary. Some are called to be missionaries within their cities, communities, some are called to other parts of the US, and some are called to go to other parts of the world. I think adoption works the same way. I'm just going where I'm called, if God starts calling me to go to Liberia then I will.

Thank you for posting this topic because it really has me thinking about things in a whole new light. I hope I don't offend anyone, but why would I feel the need to help someone whose skin color is a little closer on the color scale as mine, yet not the person who is on the other end. As a Christian that's not what I'm called to do. I've never thought about this topic or rather the topic of helping others like this before. Man has taught us that we should look out for our own, but that's not God's teaching. He taught us that we should help everyone regardless of race. Just my thoughts.