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Saw this recently over in a ministry I enjoy reading ...and it really intrigued me to see in action. As said there in the article entitled "When Black Familes Adopt White Children"
Newsweek magazine recently ran this article about a Black family who "adopted" a White child. The family structure is a bit unconventional but for all intents and purposes a little White girl is now calling Black people mommy and daddy.
The purpose of the Newsweek article, as far as I can tell, is to reflect on the fact that despite the large number of transracial adoptions in this country, namely where White people adopt children of color, society at large, cannot wrap their minds around Black people raising White children. It makes White people uncomfortable, and suspicious. It makes Black people angry and frustrated. From the article:
And really, when it comes down to numbers and economics, this isn't going to be a new trend. I don't foresee a future of Black people scrambling to adopt White children, but if they wanted to, would that be okay? Is there any reason Black people should consider adopting White children? Indeed if more Black people got in line to raise White people, would that be a surefire way to dismantle racism in this country? You think I'm kidding, but Megachurch minister, the Reverend Creflo Dollar and his wife adopted a White child for just that reason. "It was God's solution for my racist attitude," Dollar told AOL. That's why he adopted his son. Of course, that child is now a man and about to publish a tell-all about growing up in the Dollar household. So stay tuned on that one.
What do you think? Is there a reason Black people should or should not adopt White children? I would love to hear from any White people out there who were raised by Black parents. What was your experience like? And finally, does anyone else feel like the Newsweek author was out of line by printing the fact that the adopted White child's mother was the town prostitute? Isn't that private information? Thoughts?
It's already radical enough of an issue (and funny enough when considering that none have really ventured to discuss the issue of others seeking to pratically deal with the issues in our nation). But so glad to see others in the Faith Movement seeking to deal with the issue head-on in our times....as its not dealt with enough. As Creflo Dollar said best in his interview on the issue
And for more info on the issue...
Personally, the issue fascinates me...and seems to be of even greater relevance when it comes to the President being Bi-Racial himself and how many have discussed the issue of advancement not occurring without growing up on both sides of the street.
Shalom...
Newsweek magazine recently ran this article about a Black family who "adopted" a White child. The family structure is a bit unconventional but for all intents and purposes a little White girl is now calling Black people mommy and daddy.
The purpose of the Newsweek article, as far as I can tell, is to reflect on the fact that despite the large number of transracial adoptions in this country, namely where White people adopt children of color, society at large, cannot wrap their minds around Black people raising White children. It makes White people uncomfortable, and suspicious. It makes Black people angry and frustrated. From the article:
"Decades after the racial integration of offices, buses and water fountains, persistent double standards mean that African-American parents are still largely viewed with unease as caretakers of any children other than their ownor those they are paid to look after. As Yale historian Matthew Frye Jacobson has asked: "Why is it that in the United States, a white woman can have black children but a black woman cannot have white children?"
In my opinion the article doesn't break any new ground, but of course it opens up an interesting topic of discussion, as evidenced by the almost 500 posted comments to the article.
And really, when it comes down to numbers and economics, this isn't going to be a new trend. I don't foresee a future of Black people scrambling to adopt White children, but if they wanted to, would that be okay? Is there any reason Black people should consider adopting White children? Indeed if more Black people got in line to raise White people, would that be a surefire way to dismantle racism in this country? You think I'm kidding, but Megachurch minister, the Reverend Creflo Dollar and his wife adopted a White child for just that reason. "It was God's solution for my racist attitude," Dollar told AOL. That's why he adopted his son. Of course, that child is now a man and about to publish a tell-all about growing up in the Dollar household. So stay tuned on that one.
What do you think? Is there a reason Black people should or should not adopt White children? I would love to hear from any White people out there who were raised by Black parents. What was your experience like? And finally, does anyone else feel like the Newsweek author was out of line by printing the fact that the adopted White child's mother was the town prostitute? Isn't that private information? Thoughts?
Why did you choose to have a family before marriage and why adopt white children when there are so many black children languishing in foster care?
I asked the same question -- it was God's solution for my racist attitude (laughs). I grew up in a household where we had a problem with white folks. And when the spirit of God told me to [adopt], he said I'm going to resolve some of your past issues and at the same time, use it as an example to really break the spirit of racism; not only in your life, but in the lives of other people. I've had an opportunity since then to be able to teach a lot of people for how to overcome a spirit of racism, which is really a spirit of division. But then later on, we went ahead and adopted a black kid too. Now the boys that I've adopted are planning to adopt one kid themselves, because of what happened to them.
If anyone has any thoughts on the issue, curious as to what they'd be. For in light of the reality of how often it seems to be the case that rarely will you hear about black families adopting white children as you do with white families adopting Black children, it's an intriguing issue. And for anyone who has seen the movie "The Blindside"---where a white family took in a black teenager who is now a professional football player----many are considering it hard. For it does seem to be the case that one sees old racial Hollywood formulas....with it always being the case that white family saves poor black kids...from the movie "Dangerous Minds" to "Finding Forrester" and many others. I asked the same question -- it was God's solution for my racist attitude (laughs). I grew up in a household where we had a problem with white folks. And when the spirit of God told me to [adopt], he said I'm going to resolve some of your past issues and at the same time, use it as an example to really break the spirit of racism; not only in your life, but in the lives of other people. I've had an opportunity since then to be able to teach a lot of people for how to overcome a spirit of racism, which is really a spirit of division. But then later on, we went ahead and adopted a black kid too. Now the boys that I've adopted are planning to adopt one kid themselves, because of what happened to them.
And for more info on the issue...
- -"Raising Katie: What adopting a white girl taught a black family about race in the Obama era." ( What Adopting a White Girl Taught One Black Family | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com )
- ---"Blacks adopting white children" ( Blacks adopting white children — Transracial / Transcultural Adoption )... See More... See More
- ---"White Kid, Black Family: Transracial Adoption" ( NPR: White Kid, Black Family: Transracial Adoption )
Personally, the issue fascinates me...and seems to be of even greater relevance when it comes to the President being Bi-Racial himself and how many have discussed the issue of advancement not occurring without growing up on both sides of the street.
Shalom...