The Interracial Mix for a Purer Race
By: Vika • Essay • 1,585 Words • November 23, 2009 • 1,053 Views
Essay title: The Interracial Mix for a Purer Race
The Interracial Mix for a Purer Race
“Black children belong in black homes even if white families are capable and willing to raise them.” How is it that Americans can expect racial development, if people such as the National Association of Black Social Workers, a black advocacy group started to address social issues for blacks, are willing to remark in such a way to the idea of interracial adoption? One can fall into the ideas of the NABSW, but in reality people must realize that interracial adoption is a factor in the growth and progression of not only the United States, but of the entire world, and for that reason interracial adoption should be accepted and encouraged. In a racially mixed family, an interracially adopted child is greatly influenced by perspectives on society and race that eventually help build that child’s social, racial and personal identity. Therefore, the child becomes a better citizen, and from familial experience has more to offer in society.
An interracially adopted child must undergo many racial stereotypes that in life will only make him/her stronger and a more appealing person to society. With the help of their adoptive parents the child can accept the fact that racial distinctions are created by society, and that they should not be affected by the words or thoughts of the people around them. For example, Anthony Petronelli, a black man adopted by white parents, believes that he is “more open-minded as a result of growing up with white parents.” Anthony’s situation is a very important example of how an interracially adopted child can grow in advantage to other children, and just like Anthony, interracial children eventually become active members in society. Interracially adopted children are advantaged because of the influences their family offers them, especially influences relating to the true mixture of race which allows them to enhance the close minded world around them.
Racially mixed people are meant to prove that they are good enough for society, and in reality, society chooses who that interracially adopted child is going to be. Because interracially adopted children will one day be part of the competitive social market, society makes it difficult for these children to realize that one day they can be successful. Starting in school, some children are isolated because they may not really belong to a certain race on its own. Never realizing that a mixed child can actually be part of whatever race he relates to, the child may take such actions such as isolation, and self destruct. Along with comments such as “black children belong in black homes” society sets trends like the highest number of adoptive children are black, but the highest numbers of adopted children are white. The statistics of more adopted white children demonstrates the favoritism of white children over any other race, and helps build a personal pain on those children that are not adopted, because of their race. Although it is hard to accept others making decisions for one, interracially adopted children, and all others must recognize that society chooses what a person’s racial identity is, and should be embraced because society needs more diverse people.
Society’s choice for a person is based on race, but a person’s race is hereditary, consequently an interracially adopted child can be confronted with intricate situations about their roots. Although race is unchangeable, a child’s race differentiates inside the doors of his/her house from outside the world they live in. Racial identity is chosen by society according to a person’s color and facial features, but inside the walls of a child’s home he/she is the same race that their family is. But how will a minority child be the same race as a white parent? They cannot be the same race, but both the parents and the child can learn from one another. Being a part of a racially mixed family, the child can learn to accommodate to more than one race which in the long run can become the main factor to their success. In one case, Sandi Ililonga, was fortunate enough to be exposed to a diversity of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds that as a black girl, she grew to be more educated than many of her black friends around her. As a firsthand witness of the good of interracial adoption, Sandi is one of the many that encourages the practice as advancement for the entire world.
In order to become an asset to the environment that the child lives in, he/she must learn to take in criticisms and the extra weight put upon them by society for being racially mixed, and build their own personal identity. Over all of the obstacles that racially mixed adopted children are faced with, their own emotions are the most difficult for them to overcome. Controlling their emotions and being able to accept that they are in a mixed family for a reason, can make the child stronger