Adoption Agencies Want Skin Color to Matter

Should the Color of Your Skin Play a Role in Adopting?

May 28, 2008

People claim to be "colorblind," to have the ability to look beyond the color of flesh. But some believe a better vision is to have "color consciousness" to identify and celebrate the differences in other cultures and histories.

When it comes to adoption, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the Child Welfare League of America, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the National Association of Black Social Workers all backed a proposal by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute calling for an amendment to the 1994 Multi-Ethnic Placement Act so race could be considered as a factor in selecting parents for children from foster care. The change also would allow race-oriented training prior to adoption.

Do you think children should be paired with people who share their same skin color?
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18 Comments

Rozenaut 4 years 51 weeks

I'm white. My younger brother and both of my parents are also white. Almost 14 years ago, my parents adopted a third child - a little Guatemalan boy. He's mostly Mayan, so he's really dark, even compared to other Guatemalans. The fact that he's a different color than the rest of us has never mattered, and he knows it doesn't matter. Nor should it EVER matter. Kids of all races need loving homes.

ThePerfectScore 4 years 51 weeks

I am black but I have a different experience than other black, because I'm an individual. I think the only criteria for adoption should be if the people can provide a safe, loving relationship for the child.

TwistandShout 4 years 51 weeks

"Yes- Sharing skin color means sharing cultural experiences and lifestyles." That makes absolutely no sense. A European man who lives in Brussels does not necessarily share the lifestyle and "cultural experiences" as an American man in Texas. What an absurd statement!

Mishell 4 years 51 weeks

This makes me furious. There is no such thing as "race". And until they can show medical proof of it they should not be allowed to pass laws like this.

PeachyKeen19 4 years 51 weeks

whoops, I meant to say if she already hasn't and it's: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/us/27adopt.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=adoption&st=nyt&oref=slogin

PeachyKeen19 4 years 51 weeks

I think Lil Sugar should have posted up this linkhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/us/27adopt.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=adoption&st=nyt&oref=slogin

ShePirate2010 4 years 51 weeks

NOT AT ALL. I am 16 and my aunt and dad adopted me when I was two, They are white and I am hispanic, but I know where my roots are and color should never make a difference, love conquers skin color....and that's that.

lickety split 4 years 51 weeks

for foster care??? last i heard there was a shortage of available foster care families, is this really an option?

cherrygirl143 4 years 51 weeks

My husband is Mexican and I"m white. We have four boys but our 5 year old was blessed with darker skin than the rest. I'm sure people are shocked to see me as his mother since I am so fair skinned. Color doesn't matter at all. I guess if God doesn't care, then neither should these people.

anniekim 4 years 51 weeks

I took the training to be an offer or opportunity for the potential parents to learn about the culture of their possible child. A set of paid classes attached to the amendment. But if it is a requirement or further screening I would oppose that. O wonder how stacked the deck is against or for minorities in regards to adoption. Could this amendment be an attempt to correct an imbalance affirmative-action style? I will have to read up more on the Act and proposed amendment.

sunny1intucson 4 years 51 weeks

I definitely don't think we should be limiting any one of any color who wants to adopt a child of another color. I mean, every child needs to stand a better chance of being adopted and putting further limitations on who can adopt whom is unneeded. However, I do like the idea of race or ethnicity oriented training for parents just to be sure they are aware of and sensitive to any differences that might come up and common feelings of children in mixed race families.

pinkprincess1101 4 years 51 weeks

agreed jennifer76

cagey333 4 years 51 weeks

Bah. If the COLOR of one's skin matters so very much, then my India-born husband should not be allowed to be the father of our light-skinned children. Ridiculous.

klynnmorton 4 years 51 weeks

I do not believe that one's color should come into play in adopting. I do, however, believe that if a person is adopting a child from a culture or background other than their own, they should not be forced, but WILLING to learn about and educate their child about that culture or background. In saying that, that has nothing to do with skin color per se. Two people can be from totally different sides of the globe and bear the same coloring. I think that it is important to teach children their heritage and to give children, especially adopted children who are separated from their own personal history as a result of being put up for adoption, a sense of self and history. However, I think that people who go into a process as personal and often stressful, as adoption, already are prepared to give those children the best life possible, which includes, being able to teach their children about their history.

Greggie 4 years 51 weeks

By "allow" does that mean it would be required or simply available? I'd be fine with it being available, and think the same should be available to those having biological children. But required? No.

jennifer76 4 years 51 weeks

I have never met an adoptive parent of a child outside of their race who didn't go out of their way to learn what they could about their child's culture. These are people who are busting. their. azzes. to bring a child into their lives and I think it's absolutely ridiculous to pretend they are going to need more training than someone who has a child naturally. Nobody indoctrinated my mother or father into their spouses' culture before they allowed them to have my brother and I. Sure, both my parents were still around but that isn't always the case. If a mixed race couple has a child and one of the parents is absent, should we grant the government the right to require the remaining parent submit to re-education on the other's culture!? This just irks me to my very core.

Kimpossible 4 years 51 weeks

The color of ones skin shouldn't play a role in ANYTHING.

kia 4 years 51 weeks

Where would this position mixed race couples? I do like the idea of race oriented training prior to adoption. Heck, I wish I could have found that training for my husband once we started getting serious so that he would have had a better understanding of what his future would be like being with me.

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