Black Family, White Child: What's Wrong?

Pretty interesting story from a different POV in the adoption industry. It seems to show from listening to the segment that it is potrayed as a taboo for an black american family to do something like this. What if it was an aisan child and what would be that reaction?

I think any time that racial lines are crossed in adoption, there's going to be some level of controversy. First, because the child is growing up in a culture different then their own; secondly because some people would see the adoption as removing the opportunity for someone of their own race to find a loving home. I don't deny that there are many young Black children in need of stable homes... being from Baltimore and seeing many people involved in the custody system, it hits home for me. I don't have any hard feelings against this family - they acted out of genuine care and love for this child.

Do you think that African-Americans need to be more involved in adoption, especially since a large majority of children in foster care and state custody are Black? Is there a cultural taboo against bringing in a child who's not related by blood?

I think that other ethnic groups have faced this also, traditionally White families struggled for acceptance while adopting Asian children in the 70s and 80s, and Black children in more recent years. In many cases, the arrangements worked out positively for both parents and children.

What will it take for Black couples to be more comfortable opening their doors to children who are in need, regardless of ethnicity?

Its amazing that I stumbled across this blog because I am a social worker in North Carolina who has had to put my personal feelings aside as it relates to adoption. We currently have a white family that has been a foster parent for us for some time. An African American child was placed in her home and now she wants to adopt her. My frustration arose when the foster mother visited the agency regarding having difficulty in doing the child's hair. I informed her that she should take the child to an African American hair stylist or find someone that could braid her hair as it was long and thick. Well, the foster mother decided to perm the hair of a not yet 2 year old. So you already know that her hair fell out. SHe has no edges, and her hair is no longer than my middle finger. I do believe that you should be able to do what you want,,,but I think that out children need to be placed with OUR people! SOmeone who has common sense enough to know that you dont perm a 2 year old African American childs hair. But,,,I'm just the worker,,supervisors only care that one more child comes off of the foster care list! How wonderful!

This is surprising to hear,but then not look at Brad Pitt's family, they went out of the country to adopt their daughter. I am speaking from the heart, there are so many African American babies in the system that is really sad. The red tape we must go through just to be a foster parent makes it even more difficult for a African American to adopt. I remember when I a child, my parents were looking into adopting a little boy I will never forget his name (David), my parents were denied. I mean what did it take my father was a Tool & Die Maker,and my mom was a nurse. My dad grew up in the sytem and just wanted to give back what he did not have. Not to mention that my dad has a handicap but he did not let that stop him from living a normal life with a wife and three kids. When will all the RED TAPE end for us to help our BABIES.