Throughout the years, many people have felt that adoption, specifically transracial adoption, does not foster a child's success in the future. However, recently I have stumbled upon a list of famous people who in fact were adopted themselves. Here is the list:

Adopted Persons

Andy Berlin - entrepreneur: chairman of Berlin Cameron & Partners
Anthony Williams - politician
Aristotle - philosopher
Art Linkletter - comedian
Bo Diddley - musician, performer
Buffy Sainte-Marie - musician, actress
Carl-Theodor Dreyer - Danish film director
Charlotte Anne Lopez - Miss Teen USA
Christina Crawford - author
Clarissa Pinkola Estes - author
Crazy Horse - Lakota war chief
Dan O'Brien - decathlete
Daunte Culpepper - football player
Dave Thomas - entrepreneur: founder of Wendy's
Debbie Harry - singer
D.M.C. - hip hop artist
Edgar Allan Poe - poet, writer
Edward Albee - playwright
Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady
Eric Dickerson - athlete
Faith Daniels - news anchor
Faith Hill - country singer
Freddie Bartholomew - actor
George Washington Carver - inventor
Greg Louganis - athlete
James MacArthur - actor
James Michener - author
Jean Jacques Rousseau - philosopher
Jesse Jackson - minister
Jesus - adopted by Joseph the carpenter (Bible)
Jett Williams - country singer and author
Jim Palmer - athlete
John J. Audubon - naturalist
John Hancock - politician
John Lennon - musician
Langston Hughes - poet and writer
Larry Ellison - entrepreneur: chief executive of Oracle
Lee Majors - actor
Leo Tolstoy - writer
Les Brown - motivational speaker
Lynnette Cole - Miss USA 2000
Malcolm X - civil rights leader
Mark Acre - athlete
Matthew Laborteaux - actor
Melissa Gilbert - actress
Michael Reagan - author, talk show host
Moses - Biblical leader
Nancy Reagan - First Lady
Nat King Cole - singer
Nelson Mandela - politician
Patrick Labyorteaux - actor
Peter and Kitty Carruthers - figure skaters
President Gerald Ford - politician
President William Clinton - politician
Priscilla Presley - actress
Ray Liotta - actor
Reno - performance artist, comedian
Sarah McLachlan - singer
Scott Hamilton - figure skater
Sen. Paull H. Shin - politician
Sen. Robert Byrd - politician
Steve Jobs - entrepreneur: co-founder of Apple computer
Surya Bonaly - figure skater
Tim Green - football player/commentator
Tim McGraw - country singer
Tom Monaghan - entrepreneur
Tommy Davidson - comedian
Victoria Rowell - actress
Wilson Riles - educator

These amazing people are just a small testament to what I have always believed. I feel that no matter what situation that you come from, whether you were adopted or not, if you make the best of what you have you will go as far as you want to. Whether it is a case of nature vs. nurture or fate, ultimately you have the power to determine where you will end up in this world with what you have been blessed with. Opportunities such as being adopted do not come at the snap of your fingers, so if you are given one of these opportunities, run with it.

Origins of Transracial Adoption

In the 1970s, the end of the Vietnam War precipitated increased adoptions by American families. Many of the children left in orphanages were biracial, fathered by American G.I.s. In the final days of the war, South Vietnamese mothers feared for the lives of their mixed-race and disabled children. Operation Babylift brought over 2,000 children to the United States.

Adopting children from abroad began just after World War II, when large numbers of children were orphaned, abandoned or separated from their parents in the aftermath of the war. Moved by the plight of these children, many Americans were eager to provide humanitarian assistance.

Other 20th century global events, including the Korean War and the overthrow of Romania's Communist regime precipitated more international adoptions by Americans.

In the early years of international adoptions, American adoptive parents were not necessarily childless couples. These early adoptive parents often had biological children and were religious and family-oriented, and their primary motives for adopting internationally were humanitarian.

Transracial and biracial adoption remain controversial today. Some say that children available for adoption should always be placed with a family with at least one parent of the same race or culture so that the child can develop a strong racial or cultural identity. Other experts say that race should not be considered at all when selecting a family for a child. To them, a loving family that can meet the needs of a particular child is all that matters. Still others raise questions of whether removing children from their countries of birth and having them adjust to a new culture, society and language is in the best interest of the child.

In 1994, the Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act was passed to prohibit an agency that receives federal funding to delay or deny the placement of a child on the basis of race, color or national origin. This legislation, coupled with the Interethnic Adoption Provisions amendment, was designed to eliminate racial discrimination and to decrease the length of time a child must wait before being adopted.

Though these laws spark debate and conflicting viewpoints, research on transracial adoptees is positive. Studies cited by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, a resource of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, indicate that approximately 75 percent of transracially adopted preadolescent and younger children adjust well in their adoptive homes (Silverman, 1993). A 1995 study also found that transracial adoption was not detrimental for the adoptee in terms of adjustment, self-esteem, academic achievement, peer relationships, parental and adult relationships (Sharma, McGue, Benson, 1996).

Types of Transracial Adoption

Most commonly, when transracial adoption is mentioned the ideal situation involves white parents adopting African-American children; this is the majority of transracial adoptions. However, there are many other types of transracial adoption that do not receive the attention that is deserved when truly trying to understand how transracial adoption impacts thousands of lives.

Here are a few of the varying types of transracial adoption and things to consider before involving yourself in that type of transracial adoption:

African-American/Biracial Adoption

There is a strong need for families to adopt African-American children, or biracial children that are part African-American. Because of this, more families are choosing to adopt African-American children and it is becoming more common to see Caucasian, Hispanic and other families expanding their family through the adoption of an African-American or biracial child.
If you are considering adopting a black or biracial child, you may wish to study African-American culture to share this with your child. There are many children's books available that are African-American themed as well as dolls and other toys that will allow your child to embrace their ethnic background. Popular toy manufacturers, including Barbie and American Girl, offer African-American dolls. You also may wish to join playgroups or other organizations that will allow your child to interact with other African-American children. Playgroups are easily found through church or other religious organizations throughout a community or you can organize your own with friends, neighbors and other associates with children close to the age of your child.

Hispanic Adoption

More families also are choosing to adopt a child with a Hispanic background. Throughout America, the Hispanic community continues to grow and today is one of the largest, most influential communities in the nation. Couples choosing to adopt a Hispanic child may wish to learn more about Hispanic traditions, including traditional food, stories and celebrations. Families adopting a Hispanic child may wish to learn to speak Spanish and raise their child in a bilingual home. Families also may join playgroups or other organizations that will allow the child to interact with other Hispanic children or families. These playgroups may be found at church or other religious organizations, or organize your own! If you know of any other Hispanic families in your community with children similar in age to your child, simply plan times for your children to play together, or ask them if they know of any other Hispanic families looking to form a playgroup.

Asian Adoption

With the rise of international adoptions, it is also becoming more common for families to adopt Asian children. However, you don't have to adopt overseas to adopt a child with an Asian background, as there are many Asian children available for adoption in the U.S.
Families wishing to adopt an Asian child are encouraged to learn more about Asian culture, including traditions, holidays and stories. There also are many children's books available that focus on traditional Asian themes and stories that will allow your child to identify with their culture at a young age.

Indian/Native American Adoption

Many families are also choosing to adopt a Native-American child. While there are many Native-American children available for adoption, there are also special laws governing the adoption of Native American children.
To protect the interest of Native American children and tribes, the U.S. government enacted the Indian/Native American Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Couples wishing to adopt a Native American child must ensure that all mandates of ICWA are satisfied in order to adopt the child. American Adoptions is fully experienced with the ICWA mandates and has handled hundreds of adoptions involving Native-American children. If ICWA applies to your adoption, this service is included in our legal services, which we provide to all of our waiting families.
Families adopting a Native-American child are encouraged to research the child's tribe of origin in order to share with the child the traditions, celebrations, dress and other tribe customs. Families may also wish to seek out other Native-American families in their community to allow their child to interact with other Native-American children and families.

Adopting Transracially - Tips for Families

However, families considering transracial adoption should also note that adopting a child of a different race also comes with its own set of unique considerations. Families adopting a child of a different race should be prepared to teach their adopted child about their ethnicity and should foster a home environment that is open and loving of all races and cultures. As the child grows, adoptive parents should be prepared to answer questions their child may have about their own ethnic and cultural identity.
Experts also suggest adoptive parents of transracially adopted children:

• Allow the child to interact with other people and children of the child's race or ethnicity
• Read books about transracial adoption or the child's culture
• Take a foreign language class to learn the child's native language
• Consider living in a multicultural neighborhood
• Find same-race mentors and role models for the child
• Confront racism openly
• Cook ethnic dishes from the child's culture
• Celebrate all cultures, including the child's
• Take part in homeland tours and culture camps to expose the child to the traditions, customs and stories of their race or culture

Video: Problem with transracial adoption

The video gives a perspective from an african american who was adopted into a white family. He explains the issues that he is dealing with, which involve his identity.

I believe that this video is a great example of what a lot of transracially adopted children feel for these situations and others' reactions towards them. It would absolutely be difficult to grow up in a situation like this, not because of the family, but because of the people around the family. Fortunately, this world seems to be catching on to the trend and accepting it more. There will always be people who frown on things that are different because they do not understand or care to learn. All that we can do, like the man in the video is live life to the fullest and strive to prove to others and ourselves that anything is possible.

Transracial Adoption

Transracial/Transcultural adoption: placing a child who is of one race or ethnic group with adoptive parents of another race or ethnic group.

Transracial adoption has always been such a controversial topic. Through this blog, I will be posting the history of transracial adoption, analysis of what it has produced, opinions from those involved in the adoption and others who have an interest, and everything else that I come to discover during my research of this topic.

This blog is meant to inform the public of the issues surrounding transracial adoption. Also, to give multiple perspectives of this topic so that anyone who stumbles upon this blog has an opportunity to view this topic from any and every angle possible.

While some adoptive families may wish to adopt a child of the same racial background as themselves, others choose to diversify their family makeup by adopting a child of a different race or ethnicity. Throughout America, there are thousands of blended families as more couples choose to open their arms to children of all kinds of backgrounds.
Some adoptive families that are open to adopting transracially wonder if an expectant mother will choose a family of another race to raise her child, or if she will prefer a family that is of the same racial background as her child. While it is ultimately up to the expectant mother to choose a family for her child, we work with hundreds of expectant mothers each year who choose to place their babies with waiting families that are of a different race. Typically, those families that demonstrate their openness to adopt a child of a different race in their Adoptive Family Profile, or who highlight their love of different cultures, are often chosen by expectant mothers of a different race.