Madonna Highlights Issues in Multi-Racial Adoption

While Paula Neal Mooney touched on some of the controversy swirling around Madonna's recent adoption efforts of a one year-old Malawi child in her article titled "Madonna Adoption of Black Baby Criticized" available on Associated Content at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/73109/madonna_adoption_of_black_baby_criticized.html , this story isn't dead yet. There are still issues that have been raised by this media circus and this situation has brought to the forefront some of the issues faced in multi-racial, international adoptions.

With her appearance on "Oprah" Wednesday, Madonna confronted what she referred to as manipulation by the media to put a negative spin on the adoption. The truth is, the top two international adoption programs in the United States are China and Russia, most Caucasian families prefer to adopt Caucasian or Asian children. African children, and those with darker skin have a harder time finding adoptive homes in America. When people accuse Madonna and other celebrities, as well as other Caucasian families of trying to "rescue" black orphans, in reality, there are far more orphans who go without families than who do find forever adoptive families.

I agree with Mooney that these high-profile adoptions should do much more good than harm. By raising awareness to the sheer number of children who are being left orphans due to Aids, war, illness, economic hardship and other trauma and catastrophe, perhaps more children will find homes.

Additionally, the fact that Madonna's new adopted son, David's father is still alive is not unusual for international adoptions. Many parents bring their children to orphanages in countries like Malawi, Haiti, Ethiopia, etc. in hopes they will receive medical care, food, and the chance for a better life with a more stable family. I'm not saying this is an optimal situation, but the fact that many of these orphans do find forever families and grow up healthy and educated is better than the alternative. In China, baby girls are abandoned due to the one-child law and I would like to believe their parents truly want them to find loving homes.

Many international adoption agencies also provide in-country aid to communities - including health care, food, education, etc. The first priority is often to find suitable homes for children within their own countries. When this is not possible, or the need is too great, the search for families for orphans is expanded.

I think while it is shameful the way the media has behaved and the way international adoption has taken a battering in the press is a travesty, I am also bolstered by articles such as Mooney's and some of the other reports and comments I've witnessed. The reality is that trans-racial adoption remains controversial. The National Association of Black Social Workers (www.nabsw.org) has been a strong opponent of Trans racial adoptions, while the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (www.NAACP.org) has come out in support. Some people do see it as detrimental for Caucasian families to adopt Black and Bi-racial infants and children, while others see it as simply another way to build strong families and provide homes for those children who need them. The situation with Madonna's family addition has really brought this controversy to the forefront of the American consciousness. Not only are we having discussions about international adoption and building families through Trans-racial adoption as a matter of daily discourse, but people are also becoming increasingly aware of the plight of poverty and illness that is ravaging many parts of our world.

If this recent upheaval and media circumstances raises awareness and concern for these issues and results in more orphans finding good families, and more aid and support going to these ravaged countries, then plenty of positive results will definitely come of it. I think before passing judgment or taking sides, people would be well-served to actually find out more about Malawi and other decimated nations, as well as the process of international and trans-racial adoption. I do agree with Mooney that at least Madonna and her family are trying to get involved and do something to help both her new son, and also his community and country. While she may be a celebrity, she is still willing to step in as mother to a child tragically affected by an epidemic in a very poor part of the world.