[jstunme]

http://www.wthr.com/Global/category.asp?C=72574

[MMC66]

This just blows my mind that families in this country are willing to wait years and years for the perfect blonde haired blue eyed baby rather that an AA or biracial child. I find this a little embarrassing.

Martha

[LisaCA]

i'm bummed out that black kids are being exported like they're a commodity, that they're not wanted here, and that they'll spend their lives in places like the netherlands, which is lovely, but has many problems with race and ethnicity as well as other issues. It may send the message (which isn't true) that their country didn't want them. I'd like to see it slowed if not stopped altogether -just my humble opinion.

[keyla]

For a couple of reasons I found this report to be really offensive.

I am an AA married F who lives in Indianapolis and is actively seeking to adopt either a biracial or AA child. BUT I have a personal problem with mortgaging my house and taking out a variety of loans to "purchase" a baby that clearly needs a home. There is a local adoption agency with a national reputation that shall go unnamed that we have worked with, and of course it all boils down to the $$$'s. We are a hardworking and stable couple with a desire to parent a child that they are having great difficulties placing, and yet, they refuse to place them with us, not because we are bad people but because we can't pay the dollars.

I am a proponent for transracial adoption, because I believe a good home is better than a bad one or none at all, regardless of race. BUT I do find it offensive that good parents are not placed with children that need good homes just because of fees.

As a result, my husband and I chose the foster/adopt route. May as well place our actions where our mouth is

Sorry for the rambling post, but when I saw the clip during yesterday's newscast I was LIVID!!!!

~k

[sneezyone]

The fact that the adoption attorney said he can find no placement for AA/BR babies in the U.S. is astounding. My DD's birthmother is from Indiana and I'm SOOOOO glad that she didn't fall in with that firm. She was specifically attracted to the fact that our facilitator advertised to and for potential aa bparents and afamilies. I admit, that's what drew us too! C'mon...when's the last time you sat in church and heard an adoption attorney say (or even an announcement mailed to the church) advocating the adoption of aa children and/or soliciting afamilies?! Are you kidding? Most aa churches would gladly take up an offering to subsidize the adoption expenses of a paritioner or two!! The truth is, there is no outreach! Blech!

P.S. I agree with Keyla - it's all about the fees. Dh and I were/are really opposed to any whiff of "buying baby" stuff and there was no way I was willing to pay some of those fees for the priviledge of meeting a need within the aa community. One mortgage is more than enough, thanks.

[surfmama]

I can't get the link above to work...can anyone help?

[sneezyone]

Surfmama, there's a link a couple threads down that should work.

[keyla]

http://wthr.com/Global/category.asp?C=72574

The story regarding AA adoption to European countries is posted at the following site. They were the news agency that initially reported the story.

~k

[DreamingAzure]

I was very surpised to read how many AA/BR babies are going to families in Europe. But I don't think I could say this is a bad thing. They are going to loving families and countries. Sometimes to places with out the same KINDS of discremination as we have hear...no place is perfect for any of us...some are just a bit better or worse in a different way.

I wish I lived in an area where I could raise an aa/br child healthily...but I don't. So I have turned to international asian adoption...it's not perfect but better for my personal situation.

It will be interesting to see how Hague is going to change American Adoptions.

[mckenna]

this is very intereting. it is sad that we have people going to other countries to get children while children right here are going to homes overseas??? don't get me wrong, a child getting a loving home is wonderful, it's just curious to me.

why would one want to raise any child, regardles of color, in an environment you could not raise a black child in? regardless of my child's ethnicity i would want to raise them in a culturally diverse environment.

[Sleeplvr]

What really bothers me is that there are waiting lists of families through the foster care system for these babies. There are people who can't afford adoption fees but can afford the daily living expenses of raising a child.
There are homes in the US for these kids. It is all about money not finding a home for kids.

I agree with Mckenna if it's not a good environment for a AA child then it's not a good environment for any child.
The major problem that a child who is accepted will have to deal with is all the stereotypes associated with why they are deemed acceptable. That's a lot of pressure and unrealistic expectations on that child.

[surfmama]

When I quickly read through, it mentioned these adoptions were costing $30,000, of that $10,000 was for travel expenses. So, $20,000 is still pricey for "hard to place" babies. Sounds to me like someone is making out pretty good looking for international families. We ALL know there are families here in the U.S. that are waiting to adopt these babies.

[sneezyone]

Originally Posted by surfmama

$20,000 is still pricey for "hard to place" babies...

Imagine what the fees are for those that are not "hard to place" Makes my skin crawl.

[BrandyHagz]

Deleted the other thread - edited the OP to include the URL

[LisaCA]

exactly! this is about money, pure and simple.

and I agree mckenna, if it's not good for AA its not good for any child. I can't even imagine growing up black in the netherlands with few AAs. There are immigrants from africa, but they face incredible discrimination and are housed in certain areas, "ghettos" for lack of a better word. In france now there are massive riots due to the discrimination of Africans, and it's not just France.

this is a shame. I would hope there would be some education about the discrimination these kids face in canada and other places. We were not the only country to have Africans enslaved and have to live with that legacy. At least here you're not alone- there's a large community waiting to embrace you.