Do you have experience with inter-racial adoption?

Question

In this case I'm talking about Caucasian parents adopting an African-American child, not an international adoption. Especially families adopting older children, what struggles have you come across as far as adapting to each other? I live in a state that has only about a 10-15% African-American population, but the majority of children in foster care in this state are African -American, and while I would be open to adopting any child who needs a loving home, I wonder if a child from a different racial background would be ok with it. Any thoughts? I'd especially love to hear from adopted children who've been in this type of blended family.

Answer 1

I think the people you need to speak with are the inter-racial adoptees themselves about how they felt about it

Yes, parents will love and treat them just the same, of course.  But isn't what the child feels about the situation paramount?

I know one african american adoptee adopted by white parents.  He said that he was fine if he was out with either one of them because he felt people would assume that the other half of his parents were black.   But he felt very uncomfortable if he was out with both his white parents.

Love is color blind, I know that.  But if kids feel different enough when they're adopted so goodness knows how strong their little phyches have to be to deal with the situation they're put into in an inter-racial family

Answer 2

Well I am not an adopted child but I have five adopted children, from birth all interracial.  They are now happy, well adjusted, successful in their own chosen way, with their own children.  The joy of my life was bringing my children up. Holding them when they were baby's.  I had an unusual situation of adopting two children within a month of each other/  One white and one black.  They are not adults. Good looking handsome,  well adjusted men. The other three children are also inter-racial and all of them love each other very much and would do anything for each other/

A child, is a child, is a child.    If this black child that you are thinking of adopting chooses you to be his mother (sit down and ask him how he feels about it) then go ahead and adopt.

Your life will be full of everything good.   Not saying that you won't have the usual challenges of bringing up a family, but everybody deals with the challenges if they love their children.

You should see us a family gathering every year.  Every ethnic background colors you could think of. It is wonderful!!!

Answer 3

My brother who is 25 years younger than me is black and my family is white.  He is considered no different and is loved just as much as my biological sibling.  He is my dads best little buddy.  Loves working out in the garage with him, plowing snow, going for boat rides.  There is no sympathy here....he is a member of the family, no more and no less.

Answer 4

I'm an adoptee who has had friendships with bi-racial adoptees and parented by whites.

One adoptee literally got patted on her afro every Sunday after church as if she were a poodle while her parents were told; "Isn't she soo lucky you took her in?" or "It's so beautiful she has parents like you...how lucky she is."

The other adoptee drew strong paraells to adoption and slavery. Yep slavery...the selling of humans, obliterating family contact, eraseing our history...and alll to basically serve the needs of some strangers who want to play parents.

Adotion is challenging adding a different racial element.......i wouldn't recomend it unless you have several AA friends

Answer 5

We have friends who are white and adopted two little boys who are black.  The racial issue is very minor.  Most people see what they did as a blessing and don't have a problem with it.  Of course, there will occasionally be IDIOTS, both black and white, who will try to make an issue of this.  But, our friends have never mentioned these as being particular problems.

(We have adopted children as well, but they are not racially different from us).

Answer 6

I have 3 adopted children, all different culture than my wife 7 I (there are only different cultures we are all one race, human).  I've never given a rip about our physical differences.  I have always taught my oldest (Mexican, 2 Indian tribes, black & white) that color means nothing.  Jesus died for all.