In the United States, as the number of transracial adoptions grows, parents are strengthening and redefining the bonds of family by incorporating the heritage of their children into their own.
Here in Maine, one of the whitest states in the country, opportunities for exploring that diversity are not always readily available.
Some parents take Black History Month, which occurs every February, as a time to further explore African-American history and culture with their children. Others find that exploring the issue of race, past and present, is something they are confronted with on a daily basis.
Nationally, 126,000 children were waiting to be adopted as of September 2001, the most recent date for which figures are available. Forty-five percent are black, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Exactly how many black children have been adopted in Maine is unclear. Because adoptions are conducted through both public and private agencies, it's hard to say how many children -- of any race -- are adopted each year, let alone how many of the adoptees are African-Americans.
"As far as Black History Month goes, it's a wonderful opportunity to highlight the exceptional contributions of African-Americans to the development of this nation," said Carrie Jefferson Smith. "But it is certainly not, in my opinion, the end of the story."
| We rather liked Justin Ellis' Portland Press-Herald article "Issues of race, identity hit home"
posted in articles on March 2, 2004 12:52 AM | t (1)
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