Adopting a child of another race? Opinions?

Santa's Lil' Helper

As the mom of an adopted child who is biracial I think everyone should know that children will ask questions. DD notices the difference. Love is NOT enough unless you accept and celebrate the racial differences.

I for one think it is highly inappropriate to introduce a child of another race to a family who will not have extended family members and friends who are diverse.

My husband's best friend since elementary school is black (his term not mine) and his wife happens to be white. Their children are biracial. My dd and their daughter are best friends and I think that is VERY important for a child to have other children to identify with. Since her bio father is african american and not in her life I think it is very important for her to have a positive african american male in her life.

I strongly believe in her identity being important to her. Since she and I are actually third cousin we share family history. I am the family geneologist for both sides so she has picked up the geneology bug......she will often ask me to remind her who she is related to. She takes great pride in these roots and loves the different legeds and fables. And she LOVES Irish clog dancing......and it's apprpraite because she is Irish....the heritage we share.

She is also Native American but none of her relatives are enrolled in a tribe. But luckily I know what tribe her ancestors came from. Everytime we go to a native americam event she is happy because this is a part of who she is....Please if your going to adopt a child from another race you must incorporate their heritage into yours. DD is only seven and this is important to her.

We didn't always understand this and it has been a learning experience for us.....take the cues from your children. When they start asking question feed their curiosity. Let them feel it is okay to ask. Let them know you want them to ask.

Anyway it's my two cents....take it or leave it.

preemie mom

PLEASE let's stop thinking about each other in terms of race. How about just "human beings"? "All God's children"?
I'm beginning to have enough of the race issue already!! And it's more of an issue in the US, sadly. Go ahead adopt a baby, save a life of another God's child. And bless you for doing that!

angie

I don't believe that it should matter.

Cam

As long as the race and culture of the child is recognized in raising the child.

ã€ãƒ„ã€‘mommyã€ãƒ„ã€‘

hmm well honostly i think people like you are really sweet:)
i have a family friend who addopted a baby from china a few years ago and they love her like there own child!!! shes shuch a cutie!!!!!!
good luck!!!

jennifer

I thought we were all of the human race....?

opedial

The only issue I have is when you adopt from another country or ethnicity group than your own and than assimilate them into "white" culture. If you adopt from another country you better darn well start learning about that country and giving chidlren role models of taht culture etc.

xxx

I believe it is no different from your own race, although I think you should be willing and prepared to not let the child forget their backgrounds

Sophie

I am USA white and my son is indigenious Mayan Guatemalan. I've learned about his heritage and instead of him being more white, I feel as though half of my heart is Guatemalan. I love his background and embrace the culture whenever possible in EVERYDAY life... NOT just to say, hey, lets' do this because it's your heritage.

Mr. Biostud

Well if you're a racist then don't. Do the opposite if you're not!

vancool10

i shouldnt matter if they are a differnt race cause when i hear about people talking about racist and stuff it makes me feel bad

Mon

I dont think this matters one little bit! I am adopted and i am Thai.My adoptive parents were Australian and they treated me so well.I was always made to feel like i was their biological child.i was blessed.

MS PAT

LOOK AT BRAD&ANGIE/MADONNA

summer_r23

It should not matter what the nationality is... I personally am looking into adopting from Africa.. (I go over there a month out of the year and in the future see myself over there for 4-6 months out of the year) I don't see why the color of skin or anything else should affect the love you have for a child... On the other hand.. if you do adopt a child of another race it would be a good idea to study their nationality and learn how you can incorporated that with your life.. Good luck and tons of blessings

LALA

if they need you; why should it matter. it is just skin, its a helpless baby that needs you!

O.o

i think that that is an amazing thing to do, good for you!
but if you think about it, we're all people, the only thing thats gonna be hard is teaching him/her your language..
good luck! God bless

â™ªIreneâ™«

It's a great thing to do, but (not to be racist) I'd try a country other than China (I know they have a lot of babies, but China is having a gender imbalance issue right now and a lot of the other countries are being forgotten)

Still Me

Adopting transracially is not something just anyone can do sucessfully. To honor your child's race and ethnicity requires a certain mind set, attitude, along with diligence, work and sensitivity. It is a lifelong committment, that must be fully and positively embraced. And it cannot happen in a vacuum.

Adopting transracially must occur in a diverse family, neighborhood, and community as much as possible. Families need to reflect and honor diversity of ALL kinds -- through their lifestyle - books, art, foods, hairstyles, plays, movies, etc. And, it must not be done for the celebrity factor -- adopting a child from another race or who is medically or otherwise comprimised, for the attention it brings. (Sad, but true for some folks.) And it must be something that the family is able to assimilate as just "our family" -- without stressing it every five minutes. Just another way to be a family.

Hope that helps!

â™¥Tryingâ™¥

I have reserves about it, only because it seems like a lot of people are adopting Chinese babies and they seem more like an accessory. It seems like they wear them on their hip so that people know they adopted and they want to get credit or recognition for it. My adopted children look like me and I am glad. It makes it easier for them to fit into the family and try to be as normal as possible without people stereotyping them as "adopted kids". I think it is easier on the kids.

For those who adopt a child of a different race because that is what is available to them (US citizens of course) then that is a little different because people are trying to help out other kids from our own country and not just buying a baby from overseas.

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