According to federal law, adoption agencies are barred from considering race as part of an adoption placement.
While transracial adoption was still rare in the middle of the 20th Century, it has become a lot more popular and acceptable in society in recent years.
Civil rights movements in the US in the middle of the last century have paved the way for federal law to permit transracial adoption.
A Brief History Of Transracial Adoption
During the 20th Century, adoptions of black babies or children with another skin color than their adoptive parents were still unusual.
Two significant historical events changed this. The Korean War saw a lot of homeless children and orphans who were adopted by white US couples.
The civil rights movement at the time was another driving force that spread hope among people for an integrated society.
However, more and more white families chose to adopt black children. This stirred unrest in many US citizens who worried about the well-being of the children.
In the early 1970s, the National Association of Black Social Workers decided to take a clear stand against transracial adoption.
The association argued that white parents couldn’t raise black children in their best cultural interest.
They said that white adoptive parents could help their black children develop a genuine identity. Plus, many white parents weren’t prepared for the open racism at the time.
This stance from the NABSW significantly influenced the adoption rates of black babies. White parents doubted their abilities and black children were adopted a lot less.
Transracial Adoption Today
Much of our perception of race and different cultures has changed. More families become more multicolored for various reasons, including interracial dating and marriage.
This leads American society to become more multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial.
Federal law goes hand in hand with these social developments, barring adoption agencies and adoption professionals from using race as an adoption criterion.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that black children still take longer to be adopted than white children.
This often means that children with a non-white skin color spend a lot of time in foster care which can impact their mental health and well-being.
Is Transracial Adoption Harmful To Kids?
The biggest question related to transracial adoption is whether this form of adoption is harmful to the child.
There is very little research on the topic but one study suggests that black children who are adopted by white parents don’t suffer from the adoption.
However, the researchers also state that the physical and emotional well-being of the child depends on how white parents help their child of color to thrive.
For example, black children develop much better in a racially diverse community that supports their talents and cultural background.
It is often difficult for adopted black children to grow up in white places, such as predominantly white schools.
In addition, the study discovered that white adoptive parents should be prepared to talk to their black child about race, racism and their culture (see also “How To Adopt Afghan Refugee Child“).
It can be useful for black children to have other adults of color or other nationalities around to act as role models.
Scientists recommend that white parents should not ignore racial differences.
Instead, they should embrace them and encourage their child from an early age to learn more about racism and the child’s specific cultural background.
Top Tips For White Couples Who Want To Adopt A Black Baby
Growing your family through adoption is a wonderful way to give a child a safe and loving home.
Whether you choose to adopt a black baby through domestic adoption or you want to adopt a child with another skin color from abroad, there are a few things you should consider (see also “What Age Can You Adopt A Child?“).
While the below factors aren’t a reason to stop you from adopting, prospective adoptive parents should be aware that their environment may question or criticize their choice.
Prepare For Criticism
It’s important for white parents who adopt a baby of color to understand that racism may be an issue.
With social media and online communities being a platform for racism, prospective adoptive parents should be aware that they may receive racially motivated comments.
This requires emotional resilience and a strong support network to ensure that adoptive parents can protect themselves and their children from racial abuse.
Prepare Your Child For Criticism
Not just adoptive parents of a colored child receive criticism and abuse but also black children are likely to come into contact with racism very early on in their lives.
Explain Racial Differences To Your Child From An Early Age
In order to help your child understand racism, it’s important that you speak to your child about racial differences and their cultural background as early as possible.
Try to use simple terms that encourage your child to build resilience and open relationships with others.
Provide A Multicultural Environment
Research has shown that children of color who grow up in a multiethnic environment are much happier than those who live in predominantly white places.
Consider an integrative school and lots of contact with other black children and black adults. This can help your child find role models who are part of the child’s ethnic background.
Final Thoughts
By law, race is not an adoption criterion which means that a white couple can adopt a black baby.
Hi, I’m Joan Crassel, and I started my firm in 2006, with the goal to help and represent clients in a range of adoption-related matters.
Since then, the firm has gone on to aid hundreds of clients in adoption proceedings, and in other areas of family law.
With this site, I hope that you can find all of the answers that you are looking for, with in depth guides and informative articles from lawyers, not bloggers or social media influencers. We have actual first-hand knowledge of the adoption process, and can provide you with insight that no one else can.
