Roots of White Supremacy in Local Adoption Practice

This article is an op ed. It is not representing any statements as fact. Rather, it encourages robust sociopolitical discourse with those parties it may discuss, toward the ultimate goal of healing, reconciliation, reparation, restorative justice, and collective liberation for marginalized people.

Transracial and International adopted persons, communities, and lives are no doubt marred by the exploitative, unethical practices and trauma of the international child welfare system. The system is rooted in imperialism and racism.

Adoption lawyers and child welfare workers may buy into the theory of helping when indeed, they are hurting others more. They may practice without a lens of cultural responsiveness, which perpetuates intergenerational underpinnings of colonial oppression and systemic racism.

Unconscious practice within child welfare and Adoption law are another avenue of systemic oppression. It can be as egregious as legalized child trafficking. It is often times cultural genocide, and certainly may intensify themes of the disenfranchisement of, as well as violence against and criminalization of poor women and children of color.

White Saviorism is, simply put, often legitimized and celebrated through this system. And that is wrong.

My son and I live in a fairly diverse, albeit, oddly liberal, community. I say that because sometimes when a bunch of White people get together, and want to do something diverse or…