Adoption: Why race matters

As the Government prepares to change legislation to help children in care find adoptive parents faster, once again the main talking point is around white families adopting black or mixed heritage children. What is particularly depressing is how this discussion is couched which usually takes the form of: where would you rather see a black child; in a loving home with white parents or languishing in care home which too often leads them in later life to a life of crime and prison?

This crude and over simplistic choice truly highlights either a gross lack of understanding of a child’s cultural and ethnic identity or a flagrant disregard for it.

If the right cultural and ethnic match cannot be found for a child and there are families who would like to adopt a child from another background that should be fine as long as they meet the selection criteria. But part of the criteria should be they either have or are willing to learn about that child’s ethnic background. This is not some ‘political correctness’ box exercise but a process to ensure the child’s well being, particularly as they grow up and interact with the world around them.

Evidence has clearly shown that failure to do so creates a real possibility that a Black, Asian or Chinese child in a white home grows up to hate who they really are. Horror stories of adolescent children scrubbing their skin to become white are common place. Some children feel tortured simply because they or their adoptive parents do not have the knowhow to deal with, for example afro hair. Equally this cultural gap at times develops with the child/adult being completely unable to identify and communicate with people that look like them. The self-hatred becomes complete.

All of these areas can be overcome and would dramatically help not just the well being of the child, but also enhance a wonderful family which has already offered to love a child that is not their own.

Simon Woolley