I should also add that dcase had a similar story of a relatives who had preferences for a light-skinned black child and if further highlights your issue with internalized racism. However, if this case mirrors the larger context of intr-racism (racism within the group against members of the group) vs. inter-racism (racism by one group against the other, in this case whites against blacks), then the incidence and impact of inter-racism is higher and harder than intra-racism.

I definitely agree that the Association of Black Social Workers have many issues and I disagree with quite a few of their arguments against transracial adoption, however, they still have a few valid points, namely

CAVEAT: I really hate using the black-white dichotomy but I can’t seem to be able to come up with another way of articulating this point (any help would be greatly appreciated).

1. Children of color (and particularly black children) are more likely to be placed in foster system and hence put up for adoption than white children in the same circumstances. This is because (and current research supports see NABSW and childwelfare.gov websites for references) black families are more likely to be reported for neglect and abuse than families of white families. Additionally, children of color are less likely to be reconciled with their families than white children because they are more likely to be kept in the system longer.

2. White parents have, historically been openly racist and abusive to their transracially adopted children. Even though this is less likely to be the case nowadays, many a white parent(s) (not all) are more likely to be unprepared to face their ignorance of issues relating to race and racism, and as such are less likely to be prepared to help their adopted children cope with the impact of race and racism (think the colorblind/we are all the same/I have many friends and have a connection with X people - a exemplified by the writer of the alternet article). Their hearts may be in the right place, but we all know how much of a conqueror love is when it comes to issues of race and racism.

3. The NABSW may have a policy discouraging transracial adoption of black children by white parents, however, they are bound by federal and state laws and regulations (the Multiethnic Placement Act) from preventing white parents from adopting black children, *especially* when the parents have shown that they are aware of the importance of the child’s ethnicity and identity. The same cannot be said about the experiences of non-white parents who are able and willing to adopt white children.

4. The significance of the transracial adoption isn’t that it is the larger portion of adoptions (rough estimates from the childwelfare.gov show that it was between 8-20%) it is that the significant number of transracial adoptions are white parent(s) and child of color. The fact remains that white parent(s) are more likely to be wealthier and encouraged to adopt children of color (except for black children of course), but the larger questions should be a)what aspect does racism play in this dynamic and how can we counter it? b) what are the experiences of non-white parents in adopting intra and trans-racially?

I’m tight on time right now but I’ll be sure to finish my thoughts by next week. Just caught Prof. Rachel S’ piece on transracial adoption. You should definitely read it.

CVK and JC, can’t wait for your ATR’s episode on transracial adoption.

How is it that when people of color call out racism based on what we faced and outline the racism, being “arrogance and unfairness” is how we are laballed? I mean how many times do does one have to spell what cultural appropriation is - how deep is her “connection” with Indian culture when she’s uncomfortable with the color of an Indian child? You “love” the culture but the people are still alien (by virtue of skin color) to you….

I would really like to understand this charge of being “arrogant and unfair” because it seems to imply that we put ourselves in the writer’s shoes to see things from her perspective of trying to be a parent and harboring racist thoughts so that we judge her “fairly”…. Lest you forget, confession is not the same as confrontation unless you have more information about the article or the author that you would like to share…

CW,
You may be resistant to the label and try to discuss how this article is not racist perhaps you are not aware that racism identified by the author is not being addressed by just professing it and then (jokingly) addressing it with an anecdote about sunblock. Am I missing something from the article because I don’t understand how it shows that the writer is “working hard to confront her racism”?

Nevertheless, we who are the ‘beneficiaries’ of racism are aware of what the predominant perpertrators of racism have done to countless Native American, African, Asian, Native Australian, Pacific Islander and all other non-white children, all in the name of providing them a “loving” home. Any wonder why the National Association of Black Social Workers does not support transracial adoption (even if I strongly disagree with some of their points, this example goes to prove one of their main points).

And yes, sometimes there is a place for the emotional “fuck you”, especially when I am told that I’m being “arrogant and unfair” for calling out racism.

A few replies:

RE: oh, and i forgot to say, just because she’s on Alternet doesn’t mean she can’t have a backwards thought…so everyone on Alternet is thoughtful and forward thinking simply because they are happy, cool, progressive folks…that’s a bit naive, don’t you think…

……..I was only saying that CVK criticized the fact that there is no discussion of race in progressive circles. Alternet is a progressive circle; I was describing the mileu; not necessarily the content of the discussion or the character of the people there.

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RE: Here’s a question though: If the mother was, say, African-American, adopting Latino or European-descent child, and being this… sorry, clueless, about basic traits and care and race issues, would you be as accepting?

……….I don’t think she is clueless; I think she is working hard to confront her feelings on race. And I would be as accepting of anyone.

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RE: I HOPE you’re not saying that the point of international adoptions is “building connections?” ‘Cause that’s just as bad as the idea that interracial relationships and mixed people will SOLVE racism.

……..No, I wasn’t saying that. I was disputing Sewere’s equating appropriation with the author’s statement that she felt a connection.

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RE: (To the writer of the article): Fuck you and your fake-ass introspection….(To me) Just in case you forgot, the point of this forum is to address racism in all of its manifestations.”

……I didn’t forget the point, there was nothing to suggest I did. I thought a forum was a discussion, not a fuck-you fest.