Do you think that a black family could raise a white child?

Question

First, don't answer this if you have a problem with the question. It is not to say that blacks aren't capable of adopting white children.

I know this is a touchy subject when it comes to adoption of children. But, I have seen many white couples adopt black children and never see black couples adopting white children.

Black couples have a lot to offer a child of any race but you don't see them adopting babies or kids that aren't of black descent.

Answer 1

Definitely... of course. In fact, I know a lot of foster mothers who are black with white children.

Answer 2

To be fair there aren't as many young white babies to be adopted and many agencies prefer to adopt out to similar racial backgrounds unless a family specifically asks for a certain racial background on a child. Also many many adoptions come from other countries from mothers who just have too many mouths to feed and want the best for their child compared to here in the US where generally there will be another family member willing to take a child in if mom/dad can't continue caring for child.

Personally I see nothing wrong with a black couple adopting any nationality of child as long as they are willing to raise the child with an open mind. I can't say any nationality should only adopt their own nationality with the number of desperate children out there who need a home.

Answer 3

This is a weird question. I have never thought about it and you are right, you often don't see blacks adopting whites. They would be perfectly fine to adopt and raise a white child in my opinion. Raising a child of different race or that is mixed takes an open mind. My oldest son is biracial and we make sure that we are open to everything with him. It is great... the second and third answers on here sum up everything I feel. Good question!

Answer 4

This is a really good question.  I've never thought of that...but you're right -- you don't see black families adopting white children very often.  I know that black families are perfectly capable of raising white children.   I am a white girl and my second family is black.  They have always been there for me and more or less been my family, though not legally I guess.  I'm really glad you brought this up, I look forward to seeing what others have to say about it.

Answer 5

I think they are just as capable as anyone else--but you are right--you don't see it--why I don't know and I think it is because of the color--I am not saying Blacks  are prejudiced--but I think because some whites would be extremely rude about it and the white child growing up would go through a kind of reverse prejudiced from those same whites, and it is a shame because what's important is love most of all

Answer 6

Yes, I think a black family could raise a white child.  My relatives are mixed and do just fine.

There are usually a lot more black babies versus black couples available to adopt them. It is just the opposite from white babies where they may be 100 parents for every available healthy, white baby.   Understand that even white couples are discouraged from adopting black babies unless they are very determined (in my state, black or mixed race couples are to be considered first for like-race children).

Black women, in general, are discouraged from putting their children up for adoption not only by family, but also social workers.

Answer 7

Of course they can.  Do they want to?  Not usually.  This isn't necessarily malicious.  There are a few more caucasians than there are blacks in the U.S. (I use black instead of AA b/c that's the way it is in your q), so it makes sense that more Caucasians might be adopting, and as there are many children available from non-white backgrounds, then it makes sense that w's would adopt some of these babies too.

Often, black people may feel a responsibility and a closeness to a child who looks more like they do (this is probably because of conditioning of all children to think of their own children as being genetically linked to themselves, a kind of genetic immortality).  Many people, not just blacks may feel this.  

Specifically speaking about AA people in the U.S., I'd say this has to do with issues of slavery and social injustice, and a resultant feeling of not wanting a white child.  But, I doubt this is always the case.

Answer 8

Yes, color don't matter just love is all thats needed to raise a child!

Answer 9

I don't see why not.  Regardless of the ethnicity combination of parents and children, the importance of respecting a child's culture, providing positive role models of their own ethnicity, and learning the specific needs with regard to skin/hair care should be the same.

I know an AA woman with a bi-racial daughter who certainly  looks Caucasian.  She tells me that she gets some odd looks sometimes, but it's no big deal.

Answer 10

Of course why not? I know of several foster families who are african american and raising causcasian children.

Answer 11

They probably don't adopt white caucasin children for the same reason some white families will not adopt black african american children.  My husband and I adopted. When we went into the initial discussion about what type of child we were open to we were both in agreement that we would not adopt african american children. Our reasoning was that it was not because we couldn't love that child or raise it as our own. We wouldn't do it because we do not want the stigma placed on that child in their life about becoming "white" because we are white and therefore being shunned by peers or their community because of that.  My husband also did not want me placed into a position of looking like the child was illegitimate to us in someway, even though they would not have been.

It seems it is more acceptable to people to see a white couple raise say an Asian child or Hispanic child, even another white child through adoption, but there are stares and problems with other races of children.  I'm not sure why it is,but it seems to be the norm in society to want to believe anything but truth or positive outcomes (like adoption) could have occurred to see parents raising children of different races and cultures.

Answer 12

Absolutely.  

I worked in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and would literally see thousands of families a day. In that setting I was surrounded by so many different types of families and so many different family structures, that I was able to realize just how common it really is for people to adopt children of different ethnicities.  

That being said, I can honestly say that I would see maybe a dozen or so black couples who had white children every day.

Answer 13

Granted, as any cross cultural history background, there will always be some issues of possible eyebrows raised and communication.

Other than that, as long as they love the child equally as any child regardless of race, I personally don't see the issue.

Kim's definition of parent:

A person who is there for the good AND the bad.  There to kiss my boo boos away, yet tells me suck it in when I am too whiny, There to tell me it's OK to cry when life comes at me fast.  Laughs with me when life is impossible and you want to cry but laughs with me when life is joyous.  Tells me when I am wrong, but praises me when I do right.  There for all my life's milestones.  Turns away if I disappoint, but always waiting in the wings to love me no matter the misdeed or good deeds I may do.  Pushes me out of the nest when I think I am not ready and makes me fly on my own anyways

So if your a parent who is purple, blue, green, orange, or have an elephant nose, but you provide the protection, the emotional and spiritual support, and love, then all I can say is, what a wonderful parent you are!

Kim's saying:  Love knows no bounds.  It does not recognize creed, race, religion, or sexual orientation.  It is available to all who are willing to seize it and dare to live it

Answer 14

I think that a black couple is very much capable of raising a white child but the thing is, and this is just how I feel I am not tying to offend any one but it seems that white couples feel that they have to make a deffrence and adopting out of there race makes them free of ever being called a racist. I totally agree with the person above that stated that black couples will be first looking at there own race before trying to help others. Yes I know the first thing that is going to come out of your mouths is that a child is a childs regardless of color, but the little girl in high school that tried to act black or mexican because that is who she hung out with is the one that happens to be adopting out of her race hummm?? think about.... I praise anyone that adopts regardless. it is a wonderfull thing to do!! And please to the poeple out there that adopted out of there race to get mad i am not atacking you. I think you are all beautiful people but this is just how I have noticed things...

Answer 15

Yes, I think a black family could raise a white child.  Its true i don't see it as often.  I believe black families are more family oriented.  Meaning that grandmothers take in their grandchildren, great nieces etc.  whatever it takes to keep their family together.  I think these families are great role models for the rest of us.

Answer 16

Healthy white children are the most "in demand" children when it comes to adoption.  If you look at the foster care system most of the children are disabled, or minority.  I would think that most Blacks looking to adopt would choose a child of their own race (and any other people for that matter). So, it's more likely to see a White family with minority children than not.

Also I think that any child of any race can be adopted and raised by anyone that is willing to love and nurture him/her.

Answer 17

African-Americans in general just don't adopt as much as white folks.  I don't know why.  But given the current power balance, African-Americans are much better equipped to raise white kids than vice versa.  Why?  Because the people with more power always have the luxury of not knowing anything about those  with less, while the powerless have to know all about the powerful.  You wouldn't have all this "Oh dear, what do I do with this hair that's so different than mine?" stuff.  You just wouldn't.

Answer 18

Yes, definitely.

Actually I've know of several black foster parents with white foster children, haven't know of any to adopt though...

Answer 19

If they raise them good and treat the child well and make sure they are healthy, that is all that matters.

Answer 20

You don’t see it as often but blacks do adopt white kids, it’s a much lower percentage to whites adopting black or other minorities’ children.  

White infants are “high in demand but low in supply.

Blacks who adopt at all are a low %, white people who adopt are a high % in fact they make up the largest chunk of adoptive Parents.

Really by that if a black couple or person was looking to adopt they could easily easily get a black baby or young child. Where as if whites want a white baby  they have to be willing to pay top dollar , wait a few years, or even adopt international. I’m sure that there are some white people who have adopted that if obtaining a white baby or young white child was easier and faster then adopting say a minority child they probably would have taken the white kid.

I browsed a black community  forum board a few months back there was a topic on adoption the most people who posted were not interesting in adopting at all, but said that if they did they would adopt a black infant or child. There were only two members who said they would adopt a child of any race.

I also just found an article that was posted late last year (2007), that says that number of black parents adopting white kids is rising.

Check it out here.

http://www.nola.com/living//t-p/index.ss...

Answer 21

I think that parents of any race can raise a child of any race. But I think that most black families adopt black children because there are a high number out there to be adopted. In the US race is not allowed to be a factor in allowing parents to adopt. But in the UK they will only allow you to adopt a child of your own race.

Answer 22

yes absolutely!

Answer 23

Yes there would be no problem with a black family raising a white child; however, cultural (and racial) matches are preferred wherever possible.  The fact is, and annoyingly so, "white" babies and children are more "in demand" or popular or well I hate this subject but there are a lot of adoptive parents looking for caucasian children.  MOstly because there are a lot of caucasian parents looking for a racial match.  There are more african american/black children in foster care, such that if a black family came to adopt, they would do everythingt they can to do a cultural match.

This is a touchy subject, but wherever possible children should be adopted by people of their own ethnicity to provide best opportunity for passing down culture and traditions.  The only reason muti-cultural adoptions occur is because there are not enough adoptive parents that are cultural matches for each child.

Answer 24

Ofcourse they can (and vice versa).

Answer 25

Unfortunately, there are so few black families who adopt formally anway that this just does not come up a lot.  Black families do, however, tend to take in their family members at a much higher rate than other races.  And, black families are frequent foster parents to all races of children.  There have been a few notable cases where the foster family then wanted to adopt a non-black child.  In some cases the have prevailed and in others, not.  Just like in cases where non-blacks have sought to adopt a black child they have fostered.  Sometimes it is approved and sometimes it is not.  Best interest of the child is and should always be the priority, and some families are able to successfully parent outside of their race and some are not.  It takes appreciation of people's differences, the ability to honor all races, a willingness to provide a diverse environment and lifestyle, a commitment to actively expose a child to different cultures, and broad personal values to successfully parent a child outside one's own race or ethnicity.  When assessing a family during the homestudy and application process, these are some of the issues which are considered.

Answer 26

I wuld just beat him till he black!....... an blue

Answer 27

ABSOLUTELY!  WHY NOT?

I am a white female who married a black male with 6 black children (he had full custody)  So I have played a major role in raising his "black" children.  

To this day, (9 yrs later) we have not had any issues!

Answer 28

i think that would be great. yes, it may be weird to ppl looking at it, but its just b/c ppl aren't use to that. change is weird. ya know?

Answer 29

I worked with a Latino family recently that had adopted children of several races, including white.  They received a lot of flack from the presiding JUDGE of all people, but were eventually allowed to adopt their kids.

Answer 30

yes, but it's best if he is raised by people that know his culture and are his culture

Answer 31

The reason you don't see it to often is because there are more black children in the system than white.  There is also a waiting list for white children.   The waiting list has caused it to be out of wack.  Most blacks don't think adoption is a good idea so they don't do it.  White people often times want a child that looks like them so that has caused the shortage.   The ones that  don't care get black kids because they can get one right away