Why are so many white couples willing to adopt Asian, Russian, or Central American kids but not black US kids?

Question

My husband and I are in the process of adopting-- and I'm a sociologist, and so I naturally wonder about interesting social trends. What I keep noticing is that many, many white couples seem willing to adopt just about any baby from anywhere-- as long as it's not a black child born here in the US. I've seem many listings of "what a couple will consider," and folks list everything BUT black. I also know that the US actually exports black babies who can't be adopted here, while also importing loads of Russian, Asian, and Central American kids. While the simple answer might be "racism," that doesn't really explain what's going on in folks' minds and hearts.

I very much get that you cannot adopt for some social purpose-- that would be a mess. We started off to adopt and older child and constantly met w/, "oh, that's so nice." It was an awkward thing to hear b/c we were adopting b/c we want simply to raise a family. But I'm very curious how folks think about/understand this issue.

Answer 1

i think black babies are the CUTEST!!

my hubby and 4 of his siblings were all adopted... they are all black

Answer 2

It's a good question.  

There are "waiting lists" to adopt infants in the US, of any race.  US born black infants are not lanugishing in wait of adoptive parents.  That's not the issue.

The issue, rather, is with the US foster care system.  Many adoptive parents research foster adoption and decide that they are unable to meet the needs of older foster-adoptees.  I think it has less to do with race and much more to do with feeling unable to address the mental/emotional needs of the child.  

It's also worth mentioning that the foster care system does zero culture awareness training for foster-adopt parents looking to adopt transracially.

However, it's also interesting to point out that up until recently (Madonna, Angelina Jolie), international adoption of black children were also extremely low.  Celebrites brought attention to African adoptions, but before then, there were very few orphan visas issued to children from Haiti, Ethiopia, Liberia and other African countries with international programs.

Answer 3

I would love to adopt a child someday. I would gladly adopt a white child, a black child, or a child of any race. I don't think love should be based on skin color.

What are all the thumbs down about? Because I and others said they would happily adopt a African American child? Is a child better off in foster care then with a loving family? even if that family is a different race?

Answer 4

I LOVE your question because I too have wondered the same thing! I am currently the (white) adoptive mom of a beautiful half black daughter and we're currently waiting for the placement of a son that will likely be black as well! We chose to adopt from foster care for the exact reason that you have identified, which is that most white couples will go anywhere in the world to avoid adopting a black child! I've been asking questions to many people for a very long time and this is what I have come up with....

The stereotype of black people is still very negative among many white Americans. They will tell you that they identify baggy pants, rap music, disrespect, welfare abuse, ghettos, grafitti, loud voices, use of profanity, and gang activity as part of the black culture.  

It's no secret to any of us that as teenagers, children will identify with others that they can identify similarities in. Most adoptive families support the idea of familiarizing their child with their own culture, but when you view a child's culture in such a negative light, you have NO desire to expose your child to it!

So, many people have  a fear that they can raise a great, healthy child, but no matter what they do at home, their child will ultimately identify with other blacks, bringing that undesirable culture into their own home. They fear the impact that the black culture will have on their child.

Then, you have the issue of ignorance from outside sources. On a daily basis, white parents with a black child will still continue to be stared at, hear snickers, and encounter comments from ignorant or racist people. Most agencies are good about telling you those realities, and people fear that! People don't want to be stared at or talked about!!!

***Please do not mistake what I am saying as my own beliefs. I am simply offering some insight based on the questions that I have asked of others.*****

Answer 5

When people adopt they want to save a child and give them a better life. In their minds they think what better way to save a child then bring them to the US? So it's not just black children, Americans love "saving" children that didn't have the privilege to be born here.

Answer 6

I thought it was because the authorities in the US want babies (except international adoptions when it is obvious they will be of a differnt race) to be adopted into families of the same culture.  I think this is so that they will feel more at home and part of the family and grow up understanding the culture they came from.  So I thought that if a white couple came along for a baby and there were white and black babies they would be given the white one and the authorities would hang onto the black ones in the hope a black couple would come along to adopt.  not really sure though.  My partner and I are white and we would be happy to adopt a black child over a white one but I do understand that the black child may find it easier to grow up in a black family.

Answer 7

because racism is not a thing of the past it is so huge in the present. the innocent victims of this disease is young black children. people of both races black or white do not want to see a black child raised  by white parents. i'm so happy my parents were willing to fight the system to adopt me.

Answer 8

This was one of the first things that made me want to adopt through foster care.  I was incensed when I heard that black children are considered special needs in my state, just because they're black.  I have no idea if we will end up in a trans racial adoption, and I don't care.  If we are the best people for the job, we will be chosen.  It's not about what's best for us - we already got to think about that and decide what our family can handle.  Now, it's time to become what our future kids need.

I don't have an answer for you, either.  I have heard that black families have more of an interest in heritage, and so it is harder for them to accept a child who is not related.  But I don't know that this makes sense - it seems that a black family would be far more willing to raise a black child than to have them raised with a white family, without a connection to their own roots, and people who know what it feels like to be black.  I don't know.  I wish I had an answer for you.

Answer 9

RACISM, plain and simple racism. Blacks for not want their children reared by whites.

International adoption is usually the only option for some.

I am OFFENDED by your terms... "importing" and "exporting" as if our children are boxes of underwear or Nike shoes.

Answer 10

In the UK, there's not so much of a problem with that.

I have been to the USA though, and been sickened at the amount of blatant racism in some states.

I was travelling around, and met up with a gorgeous girl (later became partner), in Washington.

She was from Haiti.

We did get some nasty abuse lol.

I wouldn't heasitate to adopt a black kid, especially from Haiti, as I learn so much about it from her mother, Kiskya, who's a bit of a historian/culture buff/ preistess kinda thing.

Unfortunatly, as a nation, you are racist. Too many people in the deep south still don't want anything to do with africans.

If that someone was part of your family, would you choose to accept a child that would cause problems, or would you have one that wouldn't?

I don't think it's the parents directly, more of society as a whole, and extended family.

Why get a child that they think would cause problems, when there are so many that wouldn't?

Answer 11

A lot of people have stero types about black baby's more then of other race's. Even now that I have started trying to adopt. It said what kind of child I could adopt. But I was honest I want a black little boy with no problems. I dont have the strength for special needs. Which that's the kind of kids dfacs give away. Plus it is easy for people to get kids from other countries.

Answer 12

i agree with you its sad.  usually people want a kid that kinda looks like them- and i understand that.  I mean not wanting every stranger you ever met to know your child is adopted, but really its terrible. Adoptions are a wonderful thing, and color should be the least important thing.  I know a lot more people with adopted asian babies than i do with adopted black babies.  i think it is a little easier to get a baby from overseas.. but i am with you lets put our own country first, and black babies are really cute.  when i was preggo i looked into the idea of putting my child up for adoption ( my mom told me she would find a wonderful home cause she was white and not born to an addict)  i thought that was terrible, but as i checked into parents i saw she was right. many of them had put down then only wanted white or asian babies, and i dont want my child raised by someone like that.  i thought it was really sad

Answer 13

I'm looking into many different options for my adoption. Race has nothing to do with my choice and I am probably more likely to end up with an African-American baby because it seems to me that a lot of white people want a white child. I sort of understand their motivation in terms of no one knowing just by looking that you aren't related to your own child but I live in a huge, very diverse city and for me, raising a child and starting a family trumps race every time. I feel that I will also be able to be placed with an infant or toddler sooner than others because I put that race is not a factor on my initial application. I was actually called for clarification because I guess some people say that race isn't a factor but hold out for white babies. But I said, nope, what I put is what I meant and race is not a factor and I'm willing to learn about the issues of transracial adoption. I actually read a statistic that said African-American babies have such a low chance of being adopted because a majority of adoptive parents are white and are looking for a white child. That just reinforces my decision to adopt a child of any race. I feel that my love for an African-American child would be just as pure as my love for a child of any other race. :)

Answer 14

well in my situation we are open to all races and we were told they had several african american birth moms wanting to adopt and well they only want african american parents. we are white so we will not be considered for those adoptions. Also here in illinois the birth mother has the right to choose change her mind up till 3 days after the birth. that scares a lot of people away from domestic adoption of any kind. they are afraid of the emotional issuses that will come when a mother changes her mind. I agree I am afraid of this too we will not be angry we will be happy that she chose to parent  but sad that it did not work out for us and many of my friend who have adopted outside our country could not risk facing this loss after all the termoil of fertility issues they where done crying so they chose to go outside of the country so they would not have to face that loss.

Answer 15

I don't really understand it.

What disturbs me even more is the amount of people who are "open" to adopting biracial children - but not full African American children.  A little black is okay, but not all black?  How do you make a judgement call on that? How much black is too much?

I think it absolutely comes down to racism - though people don't want to admit it to themselves that they've got that in them.  Generations of it being ingrained that lighter is better.

Answer 16

From MPR:

<<When white families started trying to adopt black babies in greater numbers, the National Association of Black Social Workers spoke out against that practice.>>

You can't adopt black babies easily in my state. There is a statute against it, something called the Heritage Act.  The fact that there aren't enough black families choosing to adopt doesn't matter.  This whole issue came up originally because Native Americans wanted N.A. children to be only adopted by N.As.  So, as a result, it is now difficult to adopt a black child unless you choose to go out of state. Many states are reluctant to allow adoption of children from out-of-state. Catch 22.

I have 6 cousins who are mixed black and Caucasian.  Individually, any of them could adopt a black child, but not their parents (well, the parents are too old now, but you know what I mean).  I find that unfathomable.

Answer 17

I want to adopt and I want the baby look like me is that a crime?

Answer 18

It may be that people want to adopt close to their race, it could also be that they adopt overseas because it's less of a hassle than domestic adoption, it could also be that they were told not to adopt a black child if they were white.  When I went through foster to adopt classes, we were basically told not to adopt black children because we were white.  On top of that, we had to watch these videos of multi-cultural families (always white parents and black, mexican and asian kids) who had grown adopted children saying that their lives were messed up because they didn't get to experience their heritage.  

The statement about some "Heritage Act" is true too, there are african american groups in some states that will jump through hoops to find a relative or a black couple to adopt a child if a white couple tries.  The reason that there are so many black children in foster care and available to adopt is because middle class people adopt, middle class people foster, depending on where you are there may not be a lot of middle class black families.  

When people can take a moment to pull their heads out of their *****, they'll realize that it's not like it used to be, the world has changed and they need to change with it.  It's not about us, it's about the children that we leave behind.

Answer 19

The majority of Ap's and Pap's today, are looking for a child that is as closest to a "biological" child as possible. Its not just about a child in true need anymore. They want to avoid "interference" of any kind (birth mother/bio-child searching for each other) and too many foolishly think that infants will not have a problem bonding no matter which country they are from biologically.  

There is too much racism/bigotry in the US for social service to simple place black children in white folks homes. They do but would prefer it to be with interracial couples or black families. I agree with social services because I would hate to see a child be exposed to extended family members who were either racists and/or bigots,that happens unfortunately.

Answer 20

it's racial, you should not be allowed to adopt out of the country, therre are too many babies of all colors here in the US. My cousin adopted a black baby and with her own 3 white childrensociety looks down on her and gives her a hard time(she's also married to a preacher) and they have had congretion leave the church, I hate this for her, but if she was a star she would be praised

Answer 21

If you had used terms other than EXPORTING and IMPORTING I would have been happy to explain why we adopted from Asia instead of the US.

Answer 22

I can only speak from my own experience and it makes me sick.

When I was in court, the APs said one of the reasons they didn't want to give back the baby was, and I quote, "He fit into our family so well. I mean, he even looks like he could be ours."

As for international adoptions, someone recently told me that her relatives adopted internationally because, "adopting in the U.S. is too difficult. The laws are too tight here. It's way too easy for birth parents to change their minds. It happened to them and they were devestated. That was their child and they didn't even get to have him."

Answer 23

Very true more and Black born American children are being adopted IA from what I have read there are many ending up in Canada or UK.  Also sometimes couples are willing to take a child who is mixed raced and has black in them, but unwilling to take just a black child.  There was a poster who posted an agency had 8 couples lined up if the baby was bi-racial, but none wanted the baby if it just turned out to be black.

The question is about white couples willing to take any minority/race child except a black child. It’s not about PAP wanting to adopt a child that looks like them which brings up other issues but it’s not for here. After all if a couple wants adopted children that can resemble them they are going to want a child of their same race period. They wouldn’t be willing to take any other race child.  Those who would accept a child that was any other race then black, I can only assume that some racism exists in the family, maybe not always the PAP, or community. If they had close family who were racist or ignorant towards black people, even lived in an area that was that way, then a black child being placed in that home is not going to be ideal.

Answer 24

Vanity, for the most part.

People want their kids to look like them and many are misguided into believing that a lighter child will blend into their family better.  Funny logic there. We have loads of Filipino nannies here and I have never mistaken one of their Caucasian charges for their bio offspring. Same goes for seeing adoptees of non Caucasian ethnicities with their very Caucasian parents. Children adopted through international adoption have some very unique needs and that doesn't include blending in (esthetically) with a family that is obviously not the same ethnicity as them.

Answer 25

Hi Professor Sue,

I, too, find that a disturbing commentary that U.S. families are not willing to adopt black children, when they are clearly the children most in need of the adoptive homes available here.

According to The Adoption Guide, http://www.theadoptionguide.com/cost/art... the costs incurred for adopting children varies depending on what country they are from.  That supports what you are saying about children who appear to be white or lighter (Russian, Asian, etc.) command the higher price tags.  Even children adopted domestically vary in prices according to what the market will bear.  Currently, it's charging about double for white children over black children.  (examples: http://thespiritofadoption.blogspot.com/... & http://adoptionplan.com/forum/index.php )

While American PAPs are increasingly looking outside of the country to adopt, Canada is the number one country that is importing our black children to adoptive families there.  I find that very sad that those very children are passed over by American PAPs.  It appears that Americans are adopting black children from other countries before adopting the black children here.  It doesn't make sense.

You say you are looking for a reason for this.  Sorry, I cannot justify what is going on, only verify that it is indeed happening.  Unfortunately, it sounds like racism is alive & well in America.  Most people who adopt are white couples.  People either want children who look like them, or they could be afraid of associated problems they fear black children may have.  There really is no good excuse.  Thanks for bringing it up for discussion though.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 26

As with any other form of racism or hate I too don't understand whats going on in "most" peoples minds.  All I know is I would just as soon adopt a black baby as any other race.  Give me the child that needs to home the fastest, and also the one most likely not to be adopted otherwise.

Answer 27

"I also know that the US actually exports black babies who can't be adopted here"

Proof, please?

Answer 28

We're in the process of adopting and the state of Texas looks down on placing inter-racially! If a white family goes into a selection staffing for a black child, they  (Texas) would prefer to keep the child waiting in a foster home until they find a black couple than give the child to a white couple. I asked about it when we were starting the process out because I work at a majority black school and I know of many kids who are up for adoption.....