Some real truths about egg donation
Information about egg donation is not widely shared to the Black community, largely because white owned and operated egg donor agencies don’t see a problem with (well-to-do) African-American couples using available college educated donors who are asian or white. Representatives of egg donor agencies have explicitly said this to me, 'to not wait and look for Black donors but go ahead and use the college educated (white/asian) donors already in their pool.'
The egg donor market is governed by euro-american expectations/desires; largely because Black people are such a small segment of the overall market-they don’t have to cater to us. Currently there are no egg donor agencies owned and operated by a person of color. Thus Black women, such as myself, seeking an egg donor through existing channels are at a distinct disadvantage. Egg donation has been around for 20+ years. The ability to make an extra $55,000 while in school without having to quit other jobs can be quite a financial gift. I remember what it was like to go through college and graduate school and finally get my doctorate degree. If egg donation had been around while I was in school it would have made a big difference in my life; I could have lived a whole lot more comfortably and with a lot less stress about finances since I had to support myself through school.
White college coeds have been donating their eggs for years to pay for college and graduate school education. White coeds have also figured out the strategic advantages of being an egg donor; not only are they getting paid but they are also building strong alliances with prominent families. They realize that the families they have gifted can open doors for them…and they have no problems donating to Black couples….probably because of our financial and professional status.
However, there are Black, highly educated and professionally prominent women/couples out there who would really prefer to have Black donors similar to ourselves not only in ethnicity but also in outlook on life and those intrinsic characteristics that allow Black people to be high achieving in America. I am one of them. Further if I have to give up a nice chunk of change, I would prefer to offer $5,000 or $10,000 to support a Black woman's educational goals. Finally, there are Sister’s out there, such as myself, who never thought they would get married, never thought they would even have a baby. I finally got married after the age of 40 (hallelujah) ….egg donation offers me (and other women like me) an opportunity to fulfill maternal longings. Other women egg donors who have gone through this have said “The gratitude the prospective parents express to you, to experience their joy as they bring a new life into their family …it is nothing short of a moment of Grace.”
From a prospective parent seeking a Black egg donor- I am Black, proud to be Black and I want to to keep it Black
(Thanks Ziggy for letting me post under your name)
The egg donor market is governed by euro-american expectations/desires; largely because Black people are such a small segment of the overall market-they don’t have to cater to us. Currently there are no egg donor agencies owned and operated by a person of color. Thus Black women, such as myself, seeking an egg donor through existing channels are at a distinct disadvantage. Egg donation has been around for 20+ years. The ability to make an extra $55,000 while in school without having to quit other jobs can be quite a financial gift. I remember what it was like to go through college and graduate school and finally get my doctorate degree. If egg donation had been around while I was in school it would have made a big difference in my life; I could have lived a whole lot more comfortably and with a lot less stress about finances since I had to support myself through school.
White college coeds have been donating their eggs for years to pay for college and graduate school education. White coeds have also figured out the strategic advantages of being an egg donor; not only are they getting paid but they are also building strong alliances with prominent families. They realize that the families they have gifted can open doors for them…and they have no problems donating to Black couples….probably because of our financial and professional status.
However, there are Black, highly educated and professionally prominent women/couples out there who would really prefer to have Black donors similar to ourselves not only in ethnicity but also in outlook on life and those intrinsic characteristics that allow Black people to be high achieving in America. I am one of them. Further if I have to give up a nice chunk of change, I would prefer to offer $5,000 or $10,000 to support a Black woman's educational goals. Finally, there are Sister’s out there, such as myself, who never thought they would get married, never thought they would even have a baby. I finally got married after the age of 40 (hallelujah) ….egg donation offers me (and other women like me) an opportunity to fulfill maternal longings. Other women egg donors who have gone through this have said “The gratitude the prospective parents express to you, to experience their joy as they bring a new life into their family …it is nothing short of a moment of Grace.”
From a prospective parent seeking a Black egg donor- I am Black, proud to be Black and I want to to keep it Black
(Thanks Ziggy for letting me post under your name)
