[amylauren3030]

I read a thread that is closed now from a lovely AA woman that was concerned over the lack of knowledge of some of the caucasian families that were interested in adopting AA or bi-racial children, and by that I mean children that are in some part AA and other(Asian/CC/NA, whatever).
My husband and I are preparing for foster care. We are very open to fostering and/or adopting children of different races, but we will be the first to admit that we DO need help and advice. My best friend is AA. We go shopping together, we work together, we eat out together, I have been in her home, I love her family. I live 75 mins. away, that is the only reason she doesnt come to my house; I work close to where she lives. She and the rest of her family are my surrogate family. Not just to teach me how to raise a black child, but her mom wraps me in love.
We don't want to do things wrong to hurt a child. We want to do whatever we can to make sure that the children God intrusts us with grow up healthy and wise. We don't want to raise dark skinned white children, if that makes sense.
I will be having people of different races in our home and vice/versa. It is hard enough raising a child of the same race these days...I WILL ask for help and if you guys have advice I covet it...and your prayers.
I would say that we would visit other churches with them, but my husband is the pastor and he likes us to be at our church on Sunday... but we will make sure that our children are exposed to all situations growing up.
...realize that sometimes "we" and I mean adoptive parents, don't mean to be ignorant, we just don't know...be patient with us. We are learning.
I look forward to a day when we have a nation that looks beyond color and sees the person. But I totally understand what you meant...don't just read about it, get hands on experience and training...I am a nurse and we couldn't just learn by reading....we had to watch and do as well.
You have made me more aware of my responsibilities as a future parent to a child...regardless of their race.
Amy

[Linny]

As the 'seemingly CC' momma to seven children that were adopted, of which four are 'non-cc'.....let me just say that you have expressed what so many of us realize too.

I hope that your baby/babies find you soon......your wait will not be long....and your family grow in loving abundance.

My best to you........

Sincerely,

Linny

[8isenough]

Hi AmyLauren3030!


We adopted 4 AA children four years ago and we are both CC. We live in a prodominantly White area where my children are four of only a few AA children at school. We do go to an AA church however which was deliberate on our part so the kids would have friends and role models that were AA. However, my kids are thriving and it doesn't seem to faze them that mom and dad are White. We are raising them the same way we raised our birth children. I see no difference in raising Black vs. White children except that you must build a sense of pride in them of their history. Of course, what's funny to me is that when they came to me (ages 5,7,9 & 11) they didn't know anything about their African heritage even though they had been in AA homes so I'm not sure of what the issue of CC parents raising AA children (or any other race) is. You really do need to be aware of the predjudices that your children must face which I admit I was blind to as a White person. You learn that fast though. Best of luck with whatever race your children are and if you love them, the rest works itself out.

Diana (mom to Jermaine, Jhalonda, Jazz, Tahira, Josh, Jen, Anthony & Antoine)

[joskimo]

My persepctive is that adoption has changed a lot in the past few generations. While in the 70's it may have been the norm to raise an adopted child just like an adopted child regardless of the race, my experience is that most adoptive parents I know really put a lot of effort to raise adopted children honoring their race and heritage.