Blog Post 5 - Transracial Adoption

When I read the first line of the National Association of Black Social Workers’ “Position Statement on Trans-Racial Adoption”, I was shocked. It reads, “The National Association of Black Social Workers has taken a vehement stand against the placement of black children in white homes for any reason.” It goes on to discuss the idea that black children have different developmental needs than white children, and that only a black family can “transmit the emotional and sensitive subtleties of perception and reaction essential for a black child’s survival in a racist society.” I kind of took offense to these extreme statements. My (Caucasian) aunt and uncle recently adopted a black child, and they are absolutely fantastic parents. For someone to say that my cousin is worse off with my aunt and uncle than he would be with black parents is awful. I can understand that there would be fewer obstacles if a black child was adopted into a black family versus a white family, but I don’t think that all black children adopted into a white family are destined to suffer. I understand that the child also may question his or her identity more when living with a white family, but again, I don’t think that that is reason enough to encourage only black families to adopt black children. I also disagree with the assumption that white people transracially adopt children because it is “expedient” and not because they have any concern for the children. Certainly, a big reason for adoption is because the people want to be parents (which could be seen as selfish in the eyes of some), but people also adopt because they want to provide a loving home for a child who needs one. If a loving white family wants to adopt a black child, is that really worse than leaving the child in foster care? I certainly don’t think so. The final sentence of the NABSW’s 1972 statement reads that a white home is “not a suitable placement for black children” and is “totally unnecessary.” I sincerely hope that this view is not widely shared. I hoped that the more current statement of the NABSW would be more open to the white adoption of black children, but they are still strongly against the idea. Though I understand that it may be easier if a black child is adopted by a black family, I think it is wrong to say that a white family is unsuitable for a black child. 

-Rachel

National Association of Black Social Workers, "Position Statement on Trans-Racial Adoption," September 1972.