Should race be a factor when trying to adopt?

Question

As a child that was adopted 35 years ago into a racially mixed family I was wondering if views have changed any

Answer 1

What matters more to you? What your child looks like, or that you have a child? When you can answer this question for yourself, then you have your answer.

Sure views have changed in 35 years - but take into account what is more important to you because you're the one that matters - not some stranger who doesn't know anything about you or the child you wish to adopt.

Answer 2

I think that WHEN POSSIBLE children should be adopted to families of the same race.  But race should not be the only deciding factor.  Children should be raised to know their heritage and culture.  Most definitely this can be done no matter what race the adopting parents are i.e. there's no reason that a white American couple could not expose their adopted child of Chinese ancestry (for example), to that culture.  There are plenty of cultural festivals, info books, movies, food ect. that they could use as tools.

Answer 3

No, but you should be prepared for all possible situations. Make sure you understand where the child is coming from as well.

Answer 4

There are some races that are harder to place, so they have to take what they can get.  g**s who adopt have to usually settle for those categories.  As long as the adopting family wants the child I don't see a problem, matter of fact I bet they make better parents since they must be very loving.

Answer 5

if the parents are strong enough to deal with whatever backlash they AND the baby may recieve then its ok

Answer 6

Should it make a difference...no.

Will it make a difference, yep.

Anyone who has lived it knows better...and anyone who denies it, is foolish.

Finding your baby to love, is never easy....but nothing worth having is ever easy, is it? :)

Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

it should only be a factor to the adopted parents.. if they can look beyoung race and see the child there and love him or her it should not matter.. not everyone can do this.. children do not see color.. adult do

Answer 8

NO...NO....NO....Two of my seven grandchildren are adopted and they are of many mixes....but who cares....not I.... I LOVE THEM ALL....EQUALLY......Every child deserves a good home and if you can give them one,  go for it.....it sounds like you have a lot of love to offer if you are adopted and considering adopting....good luck.....they will be very special and very lucky

Answer 9

Sometimes a birth mother will have a racial preference when choosing parents- but other than that, I don't think it should matter.  It doesn't have the stigma that it used to have, at least.  Agencies encourage potential adoptive families to make friends from their new child's race, teach the child to be proud of his or her heritage, and think hard about how they plan to address racist comments that their child may encounter.

Answer 10

Sorry everyone but yes race should be a factor. Unfortunately, race is a factor in our society. If you don't think so, please ask the nearest African American male if he has experienced racism within the last six months. A child of a minority race WILL experience racism. There is nothing, short of totally isolating him or her from the world, that will stop that. White adopters don't experience racism and really, truly don't know how to deal with it.

That said, if the White adopters ACKNOWLEDGE that there is racism and that their experience will never allow them to fully understand it, that their child needs exposure to their culture and others of their race, and that they need to teach the child pride of their heritage as well as coping mechanisms to deal with racism, then please do it. Minority children do have a harder time finding forever homes and all children need someone to love them forever and unconditionally.

Answer 11

Personally, I do not feel that race nor sexual orientation should be a factor in adoption. There are over 100,000 kids in the foster system; a good parent isn't determined by skin color or sexual orientation. There is no "normal" family: America is a melting pot, and differences should be celebrated. I know a few people who have adopted children of a different race, and I believe that even this "conservative" community will embrace these families. There will always be unaccepting individuals out there-- but that is their problem.