Obama Adoption

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We've heard enough times that Obama's dad was black and his mom white and that he was raised by his white grandma. Now that Obama has won the US presidency and wants us all not to dwell on our 'blackness' or 'whiteness' [but on our American-ness and our human-ness] how is this going to affect the thorny issue of inter-racial adoption? Will Obama's presidency usher in the heyday for international adoptions? The quick answer is 'we don't know.' However, we do know that it is simply not in human nature to change so fast from institutionalized identities to take on new ones no matter how attractive the rhetoric sounds. So, let us wait until the dust settles.

Also, Obama is not only inter-racial but inter-national. Kenya. Kansas. Indonesia. Hawaii. And Kenya borders Ethiopia to the north.

Adoption of Ethiopian children has dramatically evolved over the past few years. First, the government of Ethiopia has allowed private agencies to operate such services [with some guidelines]. Privatizing the future of the most vulnerable members of society where non-tranparency and illiteracy are rampant may cause more harm than good. Second, adoptive parents have generally been white and often affiliated with churches. Third, Ethiopian adoptions have turned out to be 'cheap' and 'easy'.

What is often overlooked is the amount of money changing hands by individual agencies and their affiliates. The fact that US federal grants, tax credits and tax write-off for adoption expenses is possible ensures that money will continue to play a central role in such transactions. In fact, we may soon be witnessing a sort of 'gold rush' which would draw more and more African-American families [in the name of fairness] taking advantage of federal and state incentives. From there on, some would argue, the market will takeover and do its tricks. And then every one will be happy. Except perhaps the adopted child.

Comments

  1. Rob and CandyNovember 29, 2008 at 6:26 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.
    You didn't state your your opinion on Adoption, would you mind sharing it on your blog?
    Are you concerned there is "baby brokering" is happening in Ethiopia?
    In your last sentence you say is "Except perhaps the adopted child." What harm are you referring to? What happens to a child who spends their childhood in an orphanage? What happens to them when they become an adult?

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  2. Ethiopianchurch BlogNovember 30, 2008 at 7:40 AM

    Yes Rob &, markets tend to distort reality; often they are not governed by ethical standards. Each party is out to defend or promote own interest. Emotions are involved, etc. Also, don't forget you are dealing with a deeply poor and highly illiterate society. It is in this sense that we fear the welfare of the child could suffer.

    Obviously, there are no clear-cut answers. What we are asking is if transparency in place [who are running child adoptions locally and internationally and do they adequately disclose info] and accountability [have local resources been exhausted?] May be all it takes is to improve and support conditions in orphanages; a child in an orphanage in Ethiopia may be better off than elsewhere [because of the possibility of an extended family, religious institutions, etc.]

    We are interested in your Community of Adoptive Parents. May be by piecing together info we could better understand the world of Ethiopian adoptions [for example, your state, if affiliated with a particular church, age group, local costs, race, marital status, etc]

    You may scroll down in our blog and see another post on adoption. Take care and please keep in touch.

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