[Sohmakun]

While surfing the web earlier today I saw a blog about a well known preacher who had adopted a caucasian child transracially several years ago. The reporter had asked him a classic question that black people who adopt transracially are always asked.

"Why did you choose to have a family before marriage and why adopt white children when there are so many black children languishing in foster care?

I asked the same question — it was God’s solution for my racist attitude (laughs). I grew up in a household where we had a problem with white folks. And when the spirit of God told me to [adopt], he said I’m going to resolve some of your past issues and at the same time, use it as an example to really break the spirit of racism; not only in your life, but in the lives of other people. I’ve had an opportunity since then to be able to teach a lot of people for how to overcome a spirit of racism, which is really a spirit of division. But then later on, we went ahead and adopted a black kid too. Now the boys that I’ve adopted are planning to adopt one kid themselves, because of what happened to them."

here is the link to the rest of the story here (although the caucasian son's race isn't mentioned anymore during the interview) Which Master Do You Follow? - AOL Black Voices

To be honest I felt great disgust to his answer. Although I believe any child who needs a home deserves one regardless of the race of the adoptive parents or the race of the child. I absolutely do not agree with the idea to adopt a child to solve racism.

Does anyone else share a different or similar view? Please post them here for everyone to discuss.

[MB80sgirl]

I'm with you, I think people should adopt because they want children & they can give them a good life, not because they think it'll solve racism. However, probably that child will grow up learning to not be racist because they grew up around other races, so it solves racism within that one family if that makes any sense.

[Linny]

I can understand your point; but I strongly suspect there was more to his wanting to adopt than merely that. I also suspect the person/s writing his homestudy asked a lot of questions and held discussions before 'allowing' placement and adoption.

I don't think he's totally off the mark in what he was saying...even if I don't fully agree with it. But, while it might sound 'simplistic'----like I said, I think there was a lot more to it than that.

Sincerely,

Linny

[BethanyB]

I agree there was more to it. As a pastor he is probably trying to make a statement about racism in our society and how we need to come to terms with out own feelings in order to make this a better place.

[Sleeplvr]

The whole Creflo Dollar adoption story has gotten twisted over time. He had an established relationship with that particular child who just happened to be white. When he decided to adopt he wondered why he couldn't adopt that child and that prompted him to work through his issues. So he never set out to adopt a white child to work through his issues with race and racism.

When I first heard the scaled down version of the story that the media reported I thought it was odd. But knowing the whole story it makes more sense.

Dollar says that he met his son when he was an educational therapist at a psychiatric hospital, and recounts that the child had many "horrible" experiences. Dollar, who went on to also adopt a black child, strongly advocates the adoption of needy children.

Black Adoption - AOL Black Voices

[BethanyB]

I didn't know it was Creflo Dollar. I watch him on TV.

Thanks sleep for the explanation. I knew there had to be more to it than that.

[PersianMama]

A few months ago, I read a book about the evolution of human behavior. In the section on why people are racist in the first place, the authors point out that human beings tend to dislike and mistrust people who are different than they are. They say that when different races marry and reproduce, it lessens the racism because now the person of a different race is part of their family. From that standpoint, I could see the truth in the quote. I agree with some of the other posters that racism couldn't have been the only reason he adopted a child.