Pros And Cons Of Transracial Adoption

Transracial adoption is defined as “the joining of racially different parents and children together in adoptive families” (Silverman 1993). This type of child care takes place through multiple forms of domestically based arrangements, such as foster care, closed and open adoptions and stepchildren. The majority of transracial adoptions in this country are composed of white parents acting as the primary care-giver for racial/ethnic minority children, leading to several studies discussing the cultural differences that have taken place within the most physically visible form of adoption (Grotevant, Dunbar, Kohler & Esau 2000). The following literature highlights the compelling arguments both for and against transracial adoption, helping individuals

African American counsels, such as The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), argued that transracial adoption was in fact a method of racial and cultural genocide, as adopted children would be forced to assimilate into their adoptive culture. This ultimately resulted in the need for both policy modification and increased education on the negative implications that transracially adopted children

Take for example, an African American child adopted into a white family. In this instance both white and black cultures are large players in the structure of American society, and therefore the child’s society. If one aspect of society is reinforcing the adoptees’ culture, while the other, say the appearances of mainstream black culture is undermining the adoptee, how harmonious can the identity of the child truly be? Swize emphasizes the importance of understanding that adoption is not about teaching the child the “survival” skills to approach racism, but instead to help them grow and develop despite their situation. Another argument against minorities being placed specifically in white homes is the idea that economically and socially sound Caucasian are determining what is considered “good” for minority children. This allows for white families to feel entitled to adopt any child of any race whenever they decide, and in doing so, fail to recognize the adoptee and their culture (Smith 1996).

Previous studies have found that when it comes to transracial adoptions, the suffering of cultural communities also occurs. In 1972, the NABSW held the first annual convention speaking out against transracial adoption and its ability to inhibit minority communities. At this convention, they stated that:

“The family is the basic unit of society: one’s first, most pervasive, and