Though I’ve prayed for Haiti in the midst of their crisis, I have tried not to watch the news for fear that I would get desensitized or worse, that I would get emblazoned into one of my campaigns.
And I messed around and did it.
So, no matter how I say it someone’s gonna have a problem with it, so I’m just gonna put it out there:
I’m sure that there are SOME African Americans interested in adopting Haitian orphans.
I just know it.
So why am I not seeing any?
Please don’t take this the wrong way, as it’s not a racist thing, and honestly in light of the circumstance, I’m grateful that ANYONE is taking on the care and well-being of these precious ones. What I yearn for, is some balance. I would LOVE to see one news story that showed more than just Caucasian Americans walking with tear-filled eyes through the airports with their new children.
Are we not as aware of the information on how to adopt the children coming into the country after the disaster?
Are we not given the same opportunity to adopt as Caucasian Americans?
Or, even more disturbing, are we just not interested?
On the other hand:
Some of these families have been actually going through the adoption process for their Haitian children for over a year and were just wading through all the formal propaganda before being able to bring their children home. The emergency of the earthquake was actually a blessing in disguise for these families because it afforded them the opportunity of meeting their little ones sooner than expected. God bless them!
BUT,
Um, still, no brown faces adopting brown faces?
I’m grateful to see the outstanding show of compassion towards the children of Haiti. Even before the quake there was a rather large amount of Haitian orphans awaiting families to call their own and in just the past two years the amount of adoptions have risen.
Upon a little research, I did learn that the rush in adoption processing has been primarily geared towards those who have already been engaged in the process before the earthquake. That is amazing. I’m really glad that these families who have yearned for children are finding that the little ones who have stolen their hearts are not only alive and well, but that the process has been expedited.
Though my husband and I are not in a position to adopt any of the children, I would love it if I could see some other well-meaning and well-equipped brown faces bring those brown babies home.
Just my thoughts.
Here are a few other yolks for you to investigate:
United States Department of State Office of Children’s Issues
God’s Littlelest Angels Orphanage – I encourage you to join their mailing list and their adoption news list! I did!
U.S. Intercountry Adoption Page for Haiti
How You Can Help – MSNBC
Americans Eager to Embrace Hatian Orphans – USA Today
Haitian Orphans – Old and New- “Scared” – CBS Evening News
Amen on this post.
I have really stayed away from the Haiti coverage because I still haven't gotten over Katrina; however, I do peek in on a Haiti thread on a forum I visit and someone said the same thing you did…why are they only showing the white people adopting the kids?
Some people didn't see a problem with who they showed, but for me, this is not just a coincidence. It's all about glorifying white people saving the poor little black kids. White saviors..
My husband and I have long considered adoption, and due to recent events, Haitian adoption but there seems to be a lot of overwhelming things to consider in our cases with limited resources.
I'm certain many other blacks have put the ball in motion to adopt but the mainstream media will ignore them.
International adoption, like domestic infant adoption is very expensive. People can expect to pay anywhere from $20K – $30K including travel expenses, etc. to adopt. Let's be real, there are not a lot of "us" that can afford to do that. Many African Americans adopt from the foster care system instead of international adoption. For some reason white people can see the "exotic" kids from places like Haiti and Ethiopia as more desirable that regular old native born Black folks.
Thanks for your post Anonymous! I agree, there aren't a lot of us who can truly afford to pay for the costs of foreign adoption. However, I do believe that there have to be at least a couple. I need for those FOUR people to alert their local news so they can follow them into the airport. LOL
That being said, it is QUITE disturbing to think that some Caucasians find it more alluring to adopt brown babies from other countries than our own. How flucked up is that! I've heard it before too. Man, that's a crazy thought isn't it?
I live in Atlanta Mrs. Tiye and there were 2 different women, both Haitian, who were waiting on their adopted children to get out of Haiti. There also showed another Black women who was an offical with an adoption agency. That was heartwarming to see!
I don't and I do understand the desire to adopt "exotic" Black folks and not "regular" Black folks by Caucasians. My husband and I have discussed foster to adopt and there are several issues that come with domestic adoption of older children that are not issues with international adoption. The biggest one is the birth family and how you handle that. My understanding is that with international adoption there is usually no connection or contact with the birth family.
BTW, that Anon early was me, Brookwater
Hey Brook! YAY @ the Hometown stories from Atlanta! Kudos to them for being ahead of the curve.
I too heard that about the "birth parent factor". I can honestly say that I do see how that might be a deterrent. So many of our babies here in the U.S. come from such embattled situations that it is definitely a turn-off for potential adoptive parents.
This is a slippery slope indeed.