should race be an issue in adoption?

jammin7000

It's only an issue if they later run for president and then decide to play the race card in order to get votes.

...

EVERYTHING should matter. Down to the child favorite dinner.

What makes people think that the kids WANT to be placed in a multi-racial home. I don't think adoption should be denied, but race needs to be factored in.

Independ"ant"

If it for the best interest of the child...Yes. Im all for BMI as well as other factors being evaluated as well.

I had a biracial friend in 8/9th grade who was adopted at birth by an Obese white women who was a social worker....this is something that she found to be absolutely humiliating and very hard to deal with.

I was the only one she would allow to come over to her house. She tried to hide her Adopter and would make it clear to everyone that she wasn't her Natural mother.

Tiger by the Tail

Any negatives are offset by the postiives

Rita

i dont think it does

Sour

No it should not

Aunt Tomasina

I'd prefer a white person or even a gay couple to adopt & love a child than to have the child aborted or wind up in foster care (not that foster care is that bad but the child grows up as a transient) or worse yet, stay with parents of the same race who cannot financially and/or emotionally care for the child.

HONEY

no it should not the colour of you skin does not judge who you are niether does where you come from i believe a person should be given a change to prove them self worthy of who there are i think as long as you area nice person you should be allow to adopt any child no matter of the colour skin

BonesofaTeacher

i think it's an issue but it's more important for kids to be placed in loving stable homes. that is number one. i don't want a kid waiting longer to get placed in the correct racial home. find good parents asap. important. being in foster care has worse negative impactx.

allchildrenareangels

I don't know how I feel about it personally. I guess I personally wouldn't have a problem with it. My husband and I are hoping to adopt. I don't think we will adopt transracially because, I have talked to several adoptee's who felt very badly about their adoption because, they weren't the same race. I think it is good to try to adopt a child looks as much like the AP as possible. I think this would make the child feel more comfortable.

Love,
MIchelle

Jessica E

No....Because all children need love no matter what color they are.

Lady Rowan

no it shouldnt be an issue. Whats it matter when a child needs a home?

anglefroghammer

It shouldn't be an issue but it flipping is everybody should be treated equally not different and whats the difference between an Indian or an Asian or British person really as long as they are good people race should not every be an issue and by making it an issue they are being racist

nymphadel

There are kids waiting in orphanages because social workers are too racist to place them with families that are not the same colour.
And we let families with a minority background refuse kids that are not the 'right' colour

I think they should give the babies out randomly. A baby is a blank slate and does not have a culture until it grows up in one

monkeykitty83

I think adoptive parents should be aware that parenting children of a different race does bring added challenges, like teaching children how to respond to racism, and how to celebrate and appreciate their heritage and ethnicity.

Does that mean they shouldn't adopt trans-racially at all? No.

Just that they need to understand what they're getting into, and be prepared to help their child, for whom race will likely turn out to be an important issue.

I'm not saying don't do it, just don't do it blindly assuming there will be no challenges or that it won't be any different. It won't be any less worthwhile or not as good... just different.

â™¥â™¥Ritaâ™¥â™¥

No it should not and if a worker does not place a child in a home that is otherwise appropriate and placement is not made based only on race...that is a violation of MEPA. That is the Multi Ethnic Placement Act. There are far more children of color than there are families of color who are approved to adopt or want to adopt or even foster. By holding up a child's placement because a family cannot be found to "match".....that child is being cheated in so many ways.

Families can adjust and learn to meet a child's cultural needs. If a family cannot do that then they should not be given the option of adopting a child from another ethnic/racial background.

No, I do no think race should be an issue....

maddy81

i don't think its an issue at all, their children and human beings who care what the race...

BigOrlandoNerd

No I really feel strongly about this and that it is a hideous argument to make.

Heather ~ Not a Perfect Mom ~

As long as the adoptive parents are willing to learn the child's culture and practice it in the home, I don't have a problem with it.

DevonChaos

It isn't always negative if someone is willing to show support and encourage the child to research and enjoy their blood culture. There will be issues with the child not looking like the parent. I'm not going to be PC and say that it won't happen. I am white, and my aparents were white, but we looked nothing alike. I can't imagine how much more alienated a person could feel being in that situation, but I suppose that the proper handling of the racial differences could make this cut a little less deep.
So long as the aparents aren't fully set on erasing the past of the child, it should only be an issue if the aparents are so picky as to not want a child of a different race.

ladedamom

If race had to be an issue no adoptions would happen...internationally or otherwise. I don't think it should be based so much by race but rather by:
1. Does the family have the means to support and care for a child properly to meet their needs and give them a happy life?
2. Does the family who wants to adopt have support of their family members and that will embrace a child of any race when placement is made?
3. Does the family have willingness to do closed/open adoption in line with the wishes of the biological parents?
4. Does the family live in an environment that is appropriate for raising children in? While you don't need a mansion, you also don't want a run down neighborhood or shack either to be placing children into. You want people that have clean homes and that live in a safe house and safe area.

Making an issue out of race in adoption is like grading children on a scale of acceptable to unacceptable. If families can't handle incorporating a child's heritage and culture into their family celebrations and lifestyle as part of an adoption then I don't think they should be adopting to begin with. The wonderful but sometimes crazy thing with adoption is you don't know what traits they really inherit. It could be that your family is all athletic, but your adopted child could wind up a clutz and be better at art or music or science and the like. It could also go the other way where your family are total clutz's on an athletic level but be very talented and good with arts, music, science, books, languages etc.. You have to learn to fit the child you adopt into THEIR mold as PART of your family and as your child, but not expect them to have the same wants and abilities as the family the are adopted into... even though they will pick up some of the traits and interests of the family they are becoming part of as they are raised in the environment.

A child is a child regardless. People that adopt should understand that and be willing to love the child that they are matched/placed with unconditionally and as a full member of their family.

Nicky

No, I know a few people who are a different race than their adoptive parents. They're all pretty well adjusted individuals who love their families as much as anyone else. As far as society goes, it's better that these children have loving families rather than none. They'd be much worse off growing up in a state facility or orphanage.

*rx queen*

It shouldn't be an issue and it isn't as long as the family is able to raise the child to embrace all ethnicities and cultures.

Tonia

Yes, race IS an issue when adoption multiculturally.

I do NOT think it has a "negative effect" on anyone or anything.

JusMe

It's my opinion that if someones chooses to adopt outside their race, then it's their responsibility to ensure that the child is exposed to his/her race and needs. Kids need more then love -- they need to feel that they belong so surrounding them with diversity I think is the right thing to do.

For example -- if a white person adopted a black child then they should (a) either learn how to maintain the hair which has different needs or (b) take the child to a hair stylist who knows about black hair.

If I were to adopt a child from another country, then it would be up to me to take them to churches, gathering, restuarants, etc. where they can experience people with ties to that country as much as possible.

It's commendable for anyone to adopt a child so you have to do the best you can. Each child is different and will have different needs for adjustment.

Jackie B

This is a discussion that my husband have had. We don't care about race, gender, ethnic background if we have to adopt. We are Asian, so of course the child would be raised with an Asian influence. If we adopted a Hispanic or black child, we would want them to know about their ethnic background. That's only fair. Unfortunately we know my husband's side of the family will treat this child as inferior and not really part of the family. That doesn't bother me in the slightest but my husband is very close to his family and who knows maybe they'll change, but if not, too bad for them. Just because a child's skin color isn't the same as mine doesn't mean I can't love that child just as much as if he/she came from my womb. If a prospective adoptive parent can't say that, then they need to reconsider adopting. It's a fact, there are far more minority children that need homes.

Lillie

How many of you would be willing to move into an all black community?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Yeah I didn't think so.

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