| Hmmm. That sounds difficult. I'm not familiar with any white families
that have adopted black children, but I think I know someone that was
American Indian and was adopted by a white family. She always had a
yearning to meet her natural father, if I have my information correct.
When she finally did meet him it was a tearful and joyful reunion.
From what I understand, she was raised successfully to appreciate her
heritage while also appreciating her parents. I would assume that
successful rearing of a black child by a white family would also require
similar attention. I would, however, be quite concerned with how
society would react even though the parents may have no problem.
For example, both black and white children might pick up on the race
difference at school and they could be pretty cruel. That could be
pretty hard to handle. I'm not aware of any specific Church position.
But, I think that an understanding and compassionate Bishop along with
good professional counseling would be great helps.
Steve
|
| I know of one situation of whites adopting a black child, without any
special needs. They received the child when she was an infant, but
within 6 months, the couple started to have second
thoughts about raising a black child in a white family. They told me
they were afraid the child would have little or no connection to its
heritage. After much pain and anguish, they gave the child back to the
agency which placed it with a black family. Today, the husband is
almost moved to tears when he talks about this incident, because he
loved the child quickly and deeply.
I also watched a show on TV (I can't remember which one, one like
20/20) that showed this kind of situation and interviewed the teenage
child who said she felt adrift as far as having a connection to her
heritage, i.e. raised with "white" values and norms, but feeling a desire
to know and incorporate "black" values and norms. She expressed a
sense of confusion, disconnection and disorientation.
I was surprised in both these cases to hear these reasons because they
seemed like reasoning right out of the 1950's. Yet, in the current US
situation in which we are all becoming aware of "our differences" and
"valuing those differences", I guess a sense of identification with
one's heritage is very important.
I hope I have helped with the above. Remember these are not my
opinions, but ones I heard.
Paul
|
| Hi,
My wife and I have been involved with adoption for the last several
years. We went through the local LDS social services office and
they had a series of classes we were requested to attend to help
us with both the upcoming placement, and possible options for children
to adopt, i.e. handicapped, mixed race, other race, healthy, etc.
One of the volunteers had adopted many children from a variety of
sources including Asian, black-white, black, abused, etc.
In telling us about the black daughter that they adopted she
discussed some of the things you asked about. Initially, some of
their other children resisted even having the child as part of the
family.
She did say that her daughter, in all aspects except color, was white.
Socially, cuturally, etc., she thinks and acts as a white child from a
small rural community would. There have been a few events around here
that they have attended to help her appreciate her heritage and that
has helped.
They live in a very rural area that has very few, if any, black
residents. I cannot remember how much trouble this caused them,
but if I remember right, as soon as the rest of the family accepted
the black daughter most of the problems were resolved.
My wife and I eventually adopted a black-white daughter and we
have not had any problems as far as prejudice is concered. Both
our families have accepted her very well. She is a very special
daughter of God and we love her very much.
One of the things that helps us and I am sure will help her is
that we have been sealed together for all eternity in the Temple.
She is now a member of our family forever just as if she had been
born to us naturally. So while we must help her understand that
she does have a birth mother who also loves her, she is a part of
our family forever.
If I can help answer any other questions please ask and I will
try to answer them.
Later,
Russell Murray
|