The Interracial Adoption Option: Creating a Family Across Race
Author(s): Marlene G. Fine and Fern L. Johnson (Author)
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication Date: 21 Sept. 2013
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Print length: 168 pages
ISBN-10: 1849059306
ISBN-13: 9781849059305
Book Description
We both finally took a deep breath and walked to the front door . . . The story of our family began many years before this moment . . . And it is a story that we want to share in the hope that will encourage others to adopt one of the thousands of children of different races who are waiting for families’ The Interracial Adoption Option draws on the lives and experiences of a couple adopting two children from a different race. Starting from their decision to adopt their first child interracially and then describing the complex situations arising from their child’s racial background, the authors’ experiences and their expertise in the subject of race and ethnicity will not only guide prospective parents through the adoption experience but also provide practical advice. They consider where to live, how to choose a doctor and how to take care of your child’s hair and skin. They also tackle common issues and dilemmas, answering questions such as, Does race matter? Why is a healthy racial identity important? and What do I do if I suspect my child is being treated unfairly because of his/her race? An accessible introduction to the complex world of interracial adoption, this book will be the perfect starting point for parents of transracially adopted children and those who are considering adopting transracially.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Rarely does a book address the particular challenges of parenting children adopted into a family of a different race. This work eloquently weaves together cutting edge scholarship on racial identity development in children with pragmatic approaches to parenting transracially. Fine and Johnson offer the reader, both parent and adoption professional, a highly accessible map to traverse this previously unexplored terrain of transracial adoption. They provide rich vignettes that boldly and poignantly illustrate the preparation and skills necessary for all involved in the field of transracial adoption. This is a highly valuable contribution to our understanding of adoption across races. — Kathleen Reardon, Ph.D., MSW, Founder and Co-director, Crossroads Counseling Associates, Harvard, Massachusetts, USA
Much more than an excellent guide to transracial adoption, The Interracial Adoption Option: Creating a Family Across Race is an invitation to the opportunity, joy, and richness of becoming a multiracial family. It underscores how critical it is for white parents of children of color to acknowledge their own privilege and to make a lifelong commitment to guiding their children in developing a healthy racial identity — and provides a wealth of concrete ideas, examples, and resources for doing so. Fern Johnson and Marlene Fine seamlessly combine the wisdom of scholars with the warmth of loving, adoptive mothers in a beautifully written and accessible book that blends exhaustive research with the fullness of lived experience. — Kara Mikulich, Adoptive Mother
Based on my experience as the adoptive parent of an African-American son, this book succinctly captures the unique rewards and challenges of adopting a child of a different race. Many dilemmas and decisions explored by the authors mirrored my own journey, and made me wish that this book had been written twenty years ago. Their informative and straightforward discussion offers insights for those considering forming a multiracial family through adoption, and for those seeking to understand and support such families. It fills an important gap in the adoption literature and offers insights for all involved with transracial adoptive families. — Linda Pursley, Adoptive Parent
Book Description
A personal guide to interracial adoption drawing on the lives and experiences of the authors, a white US couple, who adopt two African-American children
About the Author
Marlene G. Fine is a Professor of Communications at Simmons College in Boston. She is also a facilitator for the YW Boston City-wide Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity. Marlene is a parent of two adopted African American sons and lives in Massachusetts, USA.
Fern L. Johnson is a Professor of English and a member of the Communication and Culture faculty at Clark University in Worcester. Fern is a parent of two adopted African American sons and lives in Massachusetts, USA.
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