Paperback. Columbia University Press 2000-06-15.
ISBN: 0231118295 / 0-231-11829-5
EAN: 9780231118293
Publisher description
Nearly forty years after researchers first sought to determine the effects, if any, on children adopted by families whose racial or ethnic background differed from their own, the debate over transracial adoption continues. In this collection of interviews conducted with black and biracial young adults who were adopted by white parents, the authors present the personal stories of two dozen individuals who hail from a wide range of religious, economic, political, and professional backgrounds. How does the experience affect their racial and social identities, their choice of friends and marital partners, and their lifestyles? In addition to interviews, the book includes overviews of both the history and current legal status of transracial adoption.
Life-changing (Rating 5 of 5)
» L. Hougland
This book was truly life-changing for me. I am a strong democrat and I have always been supportive of human rights & issues related to the left. I have always seen race as inconsequential. It doesn't matter what you look like, but what you do with your life. However, after reading this book, I have come to realize that there are big differences in the black and white cultures. It is much harder for black people than I imagined. Story after story in this book has convinced me of that. I am in the process of adoption and am open to adopting a child of a different race. I have now been enlightened that, in so doing, I must seek out people & churches of that child's race who can help them learn about their culture. I must read books, take classes, & educate myself about our child's culture. I must celebrate the race of my child by cooking their food, celebrating their holidays, & teaching them about the famous people of their culture from the past & the present. I recommend that anyone who adopts transracially do the same & to read this book and others on transracial adoption. Your child's self-esteem and future depends on it
Good, but dryly written (Rating 4 of 5)
» Arie Farnam
This is an good book and probably should be manditory for parents wanting to adopt transracially. That said, it is a tough read and not just because of content. It is much more accademically written than many other adoption books. It is denser and it is long. The interviews focus a great deal on the debate over whether or not minorities should allow white people to adopt minority children. There is much less discussion of any realistic alternatives and there is very little in the way of practical suggestions for making the lives of children who are - like it or not - transracially adopted. So, it could have been better and more practically helpful to parents, but I think perhaps the interviews are more directed at and relevant for adult transracial adoptees who can find connection and mutual understanding in them. And the fact is that if you are considering transracial adoption and you can't handle the attitude of this book, then you almost certainly won't be able to handle living with the attitudes of society about your choice. So, it should still be manditory.
-A.F
Good overview of issues but better interview technique would have helped (Rating 3 of 5)
» Christopher Morgan
The book is divided into:
1) A brief section on the academic research and political arguments on transracial adoption, written by a social science researcher; and
2) Interviews with women and men, conducted by an adult transracial adoptee; all interviews are with black Americans
As a potential adoptive parent, I found the book informative, particularly in how the interviewees reconciled their identities. Some interviewees have experienced severe identity issues exacerbated by adoption, some of their stresses were similar to challenges that most black people face in the U.S., and some of the interviewees don't seem to have had race or adoption be much of a hurdle in their lives. A common recommendation that interviewees make is that white parents of black children should make sure that their children have black peers--even if those peers are also transracially adopted--and that the children will long to be connected with black culture at some point so connecting them with the culture associated with their racial background from the beginning makes the most sense.
My main criticism is that the interviewer inserts her life and interests into the discussions so much that her leading questions make you wonder what people would have said if the interviewer had been able to be more neutral. There also is not much of a discussion of how the women interviewed seem to have much more in the way of identity issues overall than do the men. Does this mean that black males have an easier time raised by white parents than do females? This contrasts with my understanding that, overall, black women have an easier time being successful in school and later in the job market than do black men, for reasons of culture and discrimination
A Must Read (Rating 5 of 5)
» Ms. Zia
As a parent that adopted a child who is a miniority (not African American, but Asian) I have gained a lot of insight from an adoptee's perspective. I would recommend this book to an parent considering or currently raiaisng a child of a different race
Perspective of Adult adoptees is very helpful (Rating 5 of 5)
» Suzanne, adoptive mother of Korean sons and birth grandmother of bi-racial adoptee
This book is important for adoptees, adoptive parents and grandparents, as well as others who are loving and parenting across racial lines. While this is not a "how to" book, it is clear from the adoptees' stories what they believe their adoptive parents did well and what they wish their adoptive parents had done differently. It stresses the difficult issues but also reflects that transracial adoption can and does work. It helps parents to understand the importance of nurturing a relationship between the adoptive family and the adoptees' ethnic communities
(Rating 5 of 5)
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(Rating 3 of 5)
