Why Charlize Theron’s Adoption of a Black Baby Is a Good Thing
South African actress Charlize Theron recently adopted a new baby boy named Jackson. The 36-year-old actress made it known that she wanted to be a mom, even without a ring, back in a 2008 interview and recently made the leap.
But what’s special about Theron’s situation is that she adopted a black baby…from America.
Unlike other celebs who have trekked to Africa, Haiti, Cambodia or another Third World locale to adopt a child, Theron’s baby is from America, which is kind of a big deal.
The statistics facing African-American children in the foster care system are daunting. Of the half of million children in foster care, 40 percent of them are black. Moreover, if they aren’t adopted while they are babies or toddlers, many times black children remain in the system until they age out. A 2010 New York Times story highlighted the difficulty African American children face.
“Caucasians and Hispanics are consistently preferred to African-Americans. The probability that a non-African-American baby will attract the interest of an adoptive parent is at least seven times as high as the corresponding probability for an African-American baby,” the NY Times reported.
And if the child is a black boy, odds are even higher they won’t get picked.
Theron isn’t the only celebrity to adopt a black American baby. Sandra Bullock and Viola Davis also adopted black children, but unfortunately, they aren’t the norm.
While many are often times critical of white celebrities who adopt black babies from poverty stricken nations, hopefully Theron, Bullock, and Davis’ adoptions will open up a very serious dialogue about the need for adoptive homes for African-American children.
I have thought about adopting. I am of Middle Eastern Descent. Grew up in NY. I think about adopting from the U.S.. I think adopting from abroad is a trend and wonder why all of those folks adopting from China, Africa etc…don’t consider adopting from the States even though there are many children here with the need for a home.
I have many close friends from among many communities, Black, Latino, White, Arab….When I think about adopting from the U.S. and adopting a Black child from the U.S. – I have confidence that I can do a better job than others adopting for the wrong reasons, i’m a very conscious person, my friends have made sure of that…..but what worries me is not so much bringing a black child into the home I can create – but the community. My own experience may have taught me to me a good mother to a black child, but I won’t be just bringing the child into my home – I wold be brining them into my whole world – my extended family – most of whom don’t even know they are racist – the neighborhood I live in, the schools around me – the child has to live in my whole world, not just at home with me – and that is what worries me – that is harder to navigate even with the help of my friends.
When I arrive to this country 25 years ago, I worked as baby sitter, most of my clients were white middle class lesbians adopting black babies since there were more african american kids up for adoption than any other ethnic group, they ALL turn up very well, all of them graduated from Universities and are the most educated, appreciate and nicest bunch of kids that anyone will ever meet. I am very proud of all of them in total i help raise 6 kids. what was interesting that this group of lady lesbians were severely critiqued by mostly black folks, complaining about these kids will be exposed to white american culture, nevertheless some thought it was part of their gay agenda…. if getting good education in a loving environment is being exposed to the gay, white agenda…. so be it, sometimes the black community is the most critical about their own.
anyone and anything can be a parent. it takes love, affection and education to raise a child.
A straight, black woman agrees with you.
I have adopted internationally. Our daughter is from Haiti. We adopted her ln 2003.
We also have a son adopted from China. He was 4 1/2 years old when he came to our family. Our kids are happy, well adjusted and the loves of our lives. My Haitian Princess is very protective of me and loves me like crazy. We originally wanted to adopt from the foster care system and were told we were WHITE and the answer is no. We researched and decided on Haiti for many obvious reasons. The sad think is that many black families, not celebrities, but black families DO NOT want to adopt other black children here or anywhere. I have black friends who refer to themselves as French and Italian.
They were born there. They relate to that culture. Being black is not a culture.
My daughter’s hair is styled by me, I educated myself of black hair care. She also goes to a salon and absolutely does not like black women doing her hair. They are way too rough. Black people are always criticizing their own. I know black adults who were adopted in the 70′s and 80′s by white families. They are all successful and doing well.
They married other black partners.
I keep seeing comments about Charlize’s race and these “American White Women…” Umm… Charlize is South African. Moved to America when she was 18. I think she knows perfectly well how to raise a child of color when her race was the minority (not saying least privileged) but definitely the minority. She has had a tough life… congrats to her on her child.
My moms are white lesbians and they are nothing but amazing and there adopting me had less to do with the color of my skin and more to do with me being their “forever child”. I had a family because two white women decided that my home was with them and I am not screwed up because of it. I am, though, a bit messed p from spending years in the foster care system but my moms still love me:-)