Black Mother White Adopted Daughter

Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Family Issues, Interracial Relationships, Media Praises and Critiques, Race and Racism, Sociology by Rachel

A reader (Sekou) sent me a link to this fascinating article about a Black single mother who had to file a law suit several years ago to adopt a white child.? I have said before on this site that I don’t personally know of any cases of white kids being adopted into black families.? That obviously doesn’t mean that it does not happen, but it is indeed rare.? The article from the Detroit News says between 2001-05 78 white kids in the state of Michigan were adopted by blacks, compared to 677 black kids adopted by whites.? So white kids raised by black parents are there, but they are uncommon.

There is one glaring problem with the article, and this is a common problem as I have noted in the past.? The article cites that National Association of Black Social Workers as a source of opposition to transracial adoption, but that really is not relevant here.? I can just about guarantee that the NABSW doesn’t have a problem with this case.? Their concern was about a black children being aopted by white parents in large numbers, while prospective black adoptive parents faced numerous hurdles.? The article fails to cite one real life white person who was opposed to this adoption on racial grounds. (They do cite some stares by random white people at the end.)?

However, the article does a good job highlighting several other issues.? What is also interesting is that part of the reason the adoptive mother want to adopt this child was to keep her with her sister, who is biracial (black/white I’m assuming).? The adoption of the biracial sister appeared to be a non-issue with opponents.? Now this my friends points out the utter absurdity of conflating race and culture, which I have also addressed before.? (Lyonside also helped me? put the smackdown on a troll in the comments. It’s worth reading.)? How can you have two siblings being raised by the same biological mother, and people have decided that they somehow have a different culture?? Their difference is race, not culture.? If this was a cross cultural or international adoption, that discussion would be more relevant.? I also think it could be more relevant if this black mother knew absolutely nothing about white people in America, which would mean she didn’t watch any TV, read any magazines,? get a job with whites, etc.? Do you realize how difficult that would be??

What is even more interesting is the part where the black adoptive mother was asked–what kinds of (white) foods she would cook for the daughter.? The mother replied that all the kids eat hot dogs and hamburgers.

I also found the part about people asking her “why she talked black” to be quite fascinating.

Go read the entire article from the Detroit news; it’s really a good story.

Comments

9 Responses to “Black Mother White Adopted Daughter”

Changeseeker on June 5th, 2007 2:06 pm

Thanks for the link, Rachel. I really appreciate it, as I rise from the leagues of the over-burdened, if not precisely dead. :^)
atlasien on June 5th, 2007 2:21 pm

Very interesting article. I think there would be a lot of peer pressure against a black adoptive parent who actually set out to adopt a white child, the rationale being there are so many black children that already need homes. All of the black pre-adoptive parents I know locally are planning to adopt intraracially.

However, I think that dynamic totally changes when the match is not a total stranger-to-stranger match. And most foster care adoptions are not. Adopting a child that you already have a bond with, either because they are in your extended family or you have been fostering them… a difference like race seems much less important as similarities like region and culture and class and family become more prominent.

For minorities race is often like a greater family. That’s a model for how I’ve come to think about intraracial adoption. Blood/closer/extended family is not always the same as the greater family.
Ann on June 5th, 2007 5:49 pm

Rachel.

I remember mentioning this case sometime last year on a post you did on IR adoptions concerning white parents adopting black children.

The title of your post escapes me, but, I first read of this case from the book, “Interracial Intimacies: Sex, Marriage, Identity and Adoption”, by Randall Kennedy, [2003] pgs. 391-392.

Yes, it rarely happens, but, in the case of Ms. Bush, she fought against the odds and won.
Kathy on June 5th, 2007 6:25 pm

I think it is interesting that the article failed to mention MEPA 1996, the Multi-Ethnic
Placement Act, which prohibits discrimination
based on race in the placement of children.You have to wonder whose rights were being protected.

There are also African American families who
adopt internationally, such as China, and my
understanding is that some of these families
have encountered difficulties from adoption agencies.
me on June 5th, 2007 9:55 pm

“How can you have two siblings being raised by the same biological mother, and people have decided that they somehow have a different culture?”

“Marsha Marsha Marsha, everyone is so in love with Marsha. What about me?”

Stacey, Stacey, Stacey. What about the sister? Stacey is without doubt an overachiever, but without any clue to the accomplishments of the sister, we have nothing to compare. (Tangent: does Stacey still speak black, or did she heed Bryant Gumbel’s famous admonition?)

Anyway, to your question, that would depend on how various people define “culture”. While the two girls may have a similar home environment, they may not share a similar culture.

For example, if Stacey’s accomplishments historically overshadowed those of her sibling, she could very well have enjoyed a different home culture. If the mother could trust Stacey to succeed with only the occasional word of encouragement while having to berate the sibling constantly merely to pass, then two different home cultures would exist simultaneously, depending on how culture is defined.

Bottom line: too complex an issue to decide with such minimal raw information.

( Hot dogs and french fries? In my book, that brands the woman a bad mother regardless of race. heheh )
Lyonside on June 6th, 2007 11:41 am

Me: If the mother could trust Stacey to succeed with only the occasional word of encouragement while having to berate the sibling constantly merely to pass, then two different home cultures would exist simultaneously, depending on how culture is defined.

What you’re saying is about personality, learning styles, etc. but I wouldn’t define it as different home culture. Home culture would involve fundamental parenting attitudes (discipline methods, etc.), languages/dialects/slang used in the home, foods and mealtime traditions, etc. Yes, there’s a difference perhaps if, say, there were more parents/caregivers in the home when child X was 5 as opposed to child Y, or if a parent was working outside the home more with one kid over another… but is that really “cultural” changes or just regular changes in family life environment?
Adoption and Race « The Blog and the Bullet on June 8th, 2007 12:50 am

[...] by Jack Stephens on June 7th, 2007 Rachel blogs: There is one glaring problem with the article, and this is a common problem as I have noted in the [...]
Kevin M. Kraft on November 29th, 2007 4:19 pm

I would am eager to read this article, but it is no longer available for free at the Detroit News. Any idea where or how I can still ge it. I’d like to read it. I’m not only an adoptee myself, but I have wanted to make a movie about a black family who wants to adopt a white child and could glean much from this story, I think.

Can you help?
Ciara on May 9th, 2009 2:41 am

As a caucasian young woman myself that has been partially raised by my biological family and mainly raised by african american individuals the majority of my life. I was eventually adopted by an african american family and yes, it was a fight because the court system felt that it was not beneficial for me to be outside of my culture. I will tell you that I thank God each day for each one of the individuals that contributed and sowed seeds into my life because I would not be the young woman that I am today. People are so quick to judge. She dealt with family trying to talk her out of fighting for me but she didn’t give up. She had friends that would ask her why she was trying to adopt a white child and not a black child and that there were so many out there that needed it. People need to become color blind and come to a place where we don’t see color anymore. I am so fed up with all that childish nonsense. A child is a child and regardless of what race they are, we need to extend our hands out to them.
I lost my biological mother at 15 and my father at 18. God brought so many into my life, good and bad experiences but I learned from all of them. He brought an ANGEL into my life when my mother passed and she has taken me under her wings and has taught me to be proud of who God made me to be, to be the best that I can be and continue to be the unique young woman that I am. Some would be quick to say…oh if that little white child goes to a black home they will be confused and think they are black. How do you act a color? it’s impossible! The word for it is “Cultured”!
As for a white family raising a black child…it’s the same. I believe that either cases should take into consideration the history and makeup of the child and make sure they are educated on it. As long as love is there and the child is being cared for and not harmed…people need to grow up and shut up with all their ignorances. It’s 2009 people! My God!!!!!

I wrote this only to say that inspite of my lifetime movie sequel of a journey…I made it and I have every african american person that God brought into my life to thank. I also thank Him for those few in my own family that contributed but are no longer here. I think I turned out alright. God fearing, college student, 3.5 gpa, deans list, first to graduate highschool in my biological family and the first to go to college and will be the first to become a Doctor. Never did drugs or drank or smoked as well as saved my self for the right person. Never judge a book by the cover. God does things in mysterious ways!

God bless you!