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Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption2019-11-01T11:37:35-04:00

Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption

Foster, kinship and adoptive parents who do not share the same race as their children will confront discrimination or racism faced by their children. Child advocates and those who work in adoption say that in order to prepare children to handle racial trauma, adoptive parents must help them prepare to handle these situations when they arise and develop a strong sense of racial identity.

No one can live in an environment “diverse enough” or “friendly enough” or “good enough” to protect children from the pain of racism. Discrimination hurts everyone – all races, all ages. White parents are especially susceptible to being surprised or taken aback by racist experiences, because they don’t anticipate them. Parents of color can fall victim to feeling discouraged and disheartened in the face of the ever-present reality of racial bias. In order to successfully support their children of color, parents must take an honest look at their own blind spots and biases, in order to be effective anti-racist allies.


    Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Racism on Children’s Mental Health

    By |February 7th, 2024|Parenting Guides and Help, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption, The Most Important Things, Transracial and Transcultural Families|

    Created as part of the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York’s Anti-Racism and Social Justice Initiative,  Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Racism on Children’s Mental Health is a resource guide to support the mental health of youth from marginalized groups. Please share it with youth, parents, and professionals!

    Important Conversations Regarding Race and Child Welfare

    By |August 29th, 2022|Here at the Coalition, Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption, The Most Important Things|

    It's important for parents who are considering this to really be honest with themselves about whether or not this is a reflection on their own internalized racism, why it is they think those things, and what messages they might be delivering to their kids.

    Unconscious BIas and its Result

    By |September 15th, 2020|Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption, Transracial and Transcultural Families|

    In this mix of live-action and animation, a young boy of color navigates bias in the classroom and its impact on his future. The film also includes the voices of other children sharing their experiences, at school and at home, as they grow older.

    Confronting Your Own Inner Racism when Considering Adoption

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    It's important for parents who are considering this to really be honest with themselves about whether or not this is a reflection on their own internalized racism, why it is they think those things, and what messages they might be delivering to their kids.

    Transracial Adoption: Promoting Racial Literacy or Perpetuating Colorblind Racism?

    By |October 15th, 2019|Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    Most parents are open to anti-racist practices,yet are conflicted between perceptions of how racism operates in society and their actual lived experiences. MEPA is a colorblind racist policy that reproduces colorblind racism through its failure to provide parents with adequate resources concerning race and racism.

    The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race

    By |October 15th, 2019|Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    Wells knew that raising a black son wouldn’t always be easy. "But what I have been surprised by is this: At no point in the process of considering transracial adoption did I think I would have to teach my son how to stay alive.”

    Four Tips and Resources for "Post-Race" Parenting

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    Terry Keleher is a parent and racial justice educator with the Applied Research Center, which publishes ColorLines.com. Read his essay on being a white father of an adopted black son here. Below, he offers some actionable advice for racially conscious parenting in a supposedly colorblind world.

    Beyond Culture Camp: Promoting Positive Identity Formation in Adoption

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, PDF Library, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    Donaldson Adoption Institute's major study on identity formation for adopted persons. This groundbreaking work provides significant information and insights on a range of issues relating to adoption, particularly across racial lines.

    America Soured on My Multiracial Family

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    We quickly discovered that if you’re the white parents of an adopted black child, and you’re in the public eye at all, men and women will viciously criticize you for having the audacity to believe that you can raise your kid.

    Empowering Adopted Children of Color in the Face of Racism and Discrimination

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    While a white parent may be able to feel grief or feel brokenhearted about incidents that cause racial trauma, the difference is that they do not feel vulnerable or targeted. Being able to honestly acknowledge that you, as a parent, cannot understand the incident in the same way, while also showing compassion, will encourage children and teens to openly discuss these incidents when they do occur.

    Tips on Cross Cultural/Trans Racial Adoption

    By |October 15th, 2019|Multi-Cultural and Trans-Cultural Adoption, Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption|

    The parents may feel that the adoption was a success because they loved the child, the child has appeared to do well in life, and the family has never faced significant issues related to the racial or cultural challenge.

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