The Asian-adoptee identity crisis reported in Monday’s New York Times might finally lend credence to what black social workers have been saying all along: Ethnic and racial identity matters.
In 1972, the National Association of Black Social Workers issued a statement emphasizing the importance of keeping black families intact by encouraging black-on-black adoptions. Many took this stance to be anti-white, racist rhetoric, insisting that all children need is love to survive childhood healthy and intact.
So now we know — at least from an Asian-adoptee point of view.
It’s too bad so many people have gotten so hung up on the color of the critic to hear what others have been saying about the trend of white families adopting black children. Ethnic children reared without any cultural context can grow up feeling disaffected, like the perennial “other” if they aren’t acculturated to their original family backgrounds. Read more…
SEARCH
About This Blog
Love Isn't Enough is a blog about parenting and race.
The editorial team at Love Isn't Enough is comprised of Tami Winfrey Harris, Sarah, and Julia. You can email us at team@loveisntenough.com.
Comments on this blog are moderated. Please read our comment moderation policy.
Subscribe to this blogRECENT COMMENTS
Tags
addicted to race adoption african american ARP Links Asian asian american ask-anti-racist-parent ask ARP biracial black black hair books caucasian classroom colorism columnist intro culture diversity education family gratuitous cute kid pic Hispanic history identity international adoption interracial-relationships Latino mixed-race mixed-race-identity multiracial new demographic open thread parenting phenotype race race-relations race and education racism school stereotypes teachers transracial adoption Uncategorized white white-privilegeArchives
- November 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
Deborah Douglas offers a much needed reminder to well intentioned parents and adoption agencies who have everything to lose–including their children’s respect and/or identity intact if they do need heed the call for mandatory lifelong education and practice on issues of ethnicity and culture in raising adopted children of color. I would also like to add that as an adoptive parent of two children of color I have committed myself to that work, as have many I know on a daily, and sometimes hourly basis. From taking my son to the black barbershop (they know his name, and treat him like the king) in our neighborhood, to celebrating every holiday with new and old friends of color, saturating their preschool library with books boasting characters of every color, to organizing events with other transracial families, I walk it all. I am a completely changed person, for the better because love isn’t enough, and I came to this with eyes, whatever shape mine are, wide open. And every day is cause for me to see how I can look deeper, and do more. I encourage Ms. Douglas to seek out families who are doing the same work that we are to answer her questions. Look at our daughter’s hair, listen to our sons tell you the legacy that Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks left for Barack Obama, and listen to all of our children celebrate their radiant skin, their brave history, and their families biological and adoptive.
I’m wondering if some of this is generational. None of the trans-ethnic adoptive families I know (including my own) seem to be ignorant of the need to be aware of and integrate our children’s heritage into our daily lives.
BTW, has anyone studied multi-ethnic biological children being raised by single mothers who are not themselves multi-ethnic? I know several people in this situation, and was curious if any attention has been paid to them, or if this is treated as strictly an adoptive matter.