Madonna Adoption of Black Baby Criticized
Friday, October 13, 2006 - with the Ink Still Moist on the Interim Order Granting Madonna Rights to Adopt a 13-month-old Malawi Baby Boy Named David Banda, Critics Have Already Come Out Against the Practice of Rich White Celebrities Rescuing Black Babies
"…Children like David Banda are better off with their birth parents than a stranger…" wrote reporter Joan Smith in her recent article, "Madonna doesn't need to 'rescue' this little child," from the Independent News Service.
Though Smith does credit Madonna with setting up an orphanage on the ravished dark continent, where AIDS has left millions of children completely parentless, little adopted David isn't one of them. Yohane Banda, 32, was however forced to place his baby in an orphanage after his mother, Marita, 28, died of fever days after David's birth.
Though sad, Yohane related that he was happy to see Madonna adopt his baby, whom he hopes will be a frequent visitor in the future. Yet opponents are not only questioning why Madonna's adoption process transpired so quickly, but are blasting Madonna's true motives as well.
"If Madonna wants to show off how much she cares for African orphans, why can't she just wear a plastic wristband like every other moral poseur, instead of being photographed wearing a Malawian baby on her back in a native sling?" wrote Mick Hume in the UK's Times Online commentary titled, "Why is Madonna treating Africa like a little orphan that needs adopting?"
"An African baby seems to be the latest celebrity accessory," logs Hume, who goes on to disparage adoptive parents Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and other celebrities who actively seek to raise awareness of Africa's plight by adopting a baby from the disease-ravaged land.
Why You Want to Gimme That Funny Vibe?
Backlash like this against celebrities like Madonna trying to do good by adopting a poor black baby never fails to amaze me. The undertone - or outright overtone - to their commentaries is that Madonna and Jolie only adopt needy dark-skinned babies in order to up their good publicity quotient.
I say rubbish. Madonna has put her money where her heart is - with her new black baby boy. And though I'm not a fan of her Kabbalah practices, Madonna's recent adoption is doing a whole heck of a lot to raise awareness of a place named Malawi that I had to look on MapQuest to find.
It's the same thing Angela Jolie did for Darfur, a region largely ignored by the mainstream media until the white hot spotlight on "Brangelina" kept it in focus.
This harsh criticism of Madonna from so-called pundits probably isn't due to genuine concern for the HIV-ravished nation and the adoption of African children. It smacks more of angst coming from do-nothings throwing stones at folks who are at least doing something.
If it were an expert in Africa who ran an orphanage day-in day-out challenging Madonna, I'd be more willing to learn from their insights regarding these adoption practices. But smarmy, I-can't-do-anything-because-I-don't-have-the-kind-of-money-Madonna-has critics not willing to give up one of their weekly café mochas I can't stand.
So, Madonna lambasters, put it all out on the table. What are you doing - today - to help a black baby in Africa?
I'll go first. Two years ago I learned of the rape of a 10-month-old black baby girl brought into an African orphanage. I was so upset I could barely work that day; I wanted to jump on the next flight out.
Instead, I did what I could and started sponsoring a little black girl from Rufunsa, Zambia, named Ireene Muchayo. Her father and I have exchanged a few letters and pictures since that time. The 24 bucks a month I've been blessed to actually have in my checking account when the debit hits has meant the world to them.
I'm doing what I can at this point; I pray I can help a lot more children and babies in the future. I say it here only as an example, not for bragging rights or any of the other things folks accuse Madonna and other celebrities of doing.
So how about turning those poison pens over to your checkbooks, and instead of writing pieces that dog out Madonna and debate the issue of celebs receiving preferential adoption treatment abroad, write out a check to fund missionaries already acccomplishing the type of real help that you claim Africa needs?
Paula Neal Mooney is a freelance journalist.
Published by Paula Neal Mooney
Paula Neal Mooney is owner of Plunder LLC, a media and publishing company. A screenwriter and journalist for major websites like Yahoo and Examiner, Paula has also been published in various national print... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentMiyuki and these other pathetic people that make these stupid comments should STOP THE HATE! Madonna is not perfect, but she is doing something very positive. She has just adopted another African child and is building a school in Malawi similar to Oprah's school in South Africa. What have you haters done to help starving children? All you do is surf the internet and make negative stupid comments. GET A LIFE!
Watching all her videos, she seem to have a fetish for black people. This black will be her pet like those pets used by celebs to go with their style. Sick!
Any child in an orphanage in the US or any other first world country is in a better situation than a child in an orphanage in a poor part of Africa. This child will grow up with the best in life--an education, health care, and a brilliant future. People don't seem to be considering the issue from the child's point of view at all. That makes their motives selfish--not Madonna's. She chose to adopt a child that really DID need help. What's more, the child has the opportunity to keep in touch with his family and roots. It's win/win for the baby. Just not for the apparently jealous detractors.
The color card again? Geeish you people! Your jealousy is about the color green ($$$, money) and using black and white to dazzle others with your B.S. Bottom line, Madonna is very wealthy and can do what ever she wants with her money. Because she chooses to share her money in ways that don't and will not ever satisfy everyone, is not her problem it's yours. Personally, I believe charity begins at home and should be shared with my own blood and kin. But, you want to attack those who are more compassionate and generous and are willing to step out side their own family circle and help children who are very poor. Who is to say the father of the child would not spend it on drugs, booze or anything other than the childs well being and best interest? Nobody can predict the future, but one thing is certain, the child is in better hands financially with Madonna and you know it, and shelter, food, education, clothing and a stable family enviroment is in the childs best interest. One world
Why couldn't she have given the father the help he needed in order for him to keep his child with him. I question this only because to me if the child was in an orpanage why wouldn't Modonna want to do something to keep baby and father together. If family is important to her she has gone about it the wrong way. Why did she have to go clear across the country to get a black baby there are many children in this country that need good homes as well. The welfare of the baby was not her only motive.
I adopted a bi=racial child five years ago. She has made my life so much better. But the only problem is the black people harass me all the time. They should get over it. Color doesn't matter.More black children would be adopted if you didn't have to jump through hoops to do it. I even got looked up and down at last week by a black police officer when he said " are you her mother" ? Go figure. My daugher said to tell Madonna she is proud of her and thank you. Eileen
If Madonna had wanted to adopt a black child there were plenty near home - US or the UK. Its all for publicity, she could have used her married name and done it quietly instead of getting her PR personnel to inform every news agency in the world of the right place and time to turn up with their camera crews to watch Madonna do her tribal dance on a platform and get her baby. Madonna never was mega-talented, nor particularly good-looking, but for self-promotion she cannot be beaten, she is one of the very best in the world. She's 48, her star is fading, this should pump it up.
Another point. The child is not an orphan but was in the orphanage due to the poverty of the single father, would it not have been better for the child to have helped the father? How the child will view his super wealthy adoptive mother taking him away from his poor father in his teenage years, his years of angst I don't know.
Leave her alone! This adoption was not like she purchased an accessory item. She gave a home to a child with the father's consent to better his life. The father can see this. How many of us in this father's situation would have done the same thing, knowing our child has an opportunity for a better life? She could have chosen to just be a 'goodwill ambassador' and contributed a few million dollars, but she took that extra step and adopted a child. This is a commitment for the next 18+ years for her.
I can't believe people are complaining about this. We adopted a baby
girl from texas last year. So what if Madonna got thru her process
fast? Can you imagine the amazing life this child will have vs. an
orphanage? Siblings & Parents that love him, and finances to persue
whatever dreams he has. People want to pick on Madonna because of
her personna as an actress/singer. She's a mother just like any of us. That's what is most important.
Anyone who is criticizing Madonna for her righteous action, need look within themselves. What she has done for this child, what she has given up, what she will give him. I believe that her heart was in the rigth place, this was no publicity stunt!