While most adoptees face questions about their identity and roots, children adopted into transracial families face the additional struggles of racial identity, belonging, and social prejudice. In this enlightening video, several young adults discuss their experiences as transracial adoptees and the personal challenges they have faced since childhood. While the experience of each interviewee is unique, a theme of uncertain identity is heard throughout each adoptee’s story.
One adoptee, Martin, recalls his confusion when his black peers rejected him for liking “white” music. Another adoptee, Josh, recounts the moments when both he and his parents had to recognize that they were not of the same race. And Michelle vividly remembers the first time she and her parents dealt with racism in kindergarten. The interviewees address how their natural, inherent desire to “fit in” was challenged when they realized they look remarkably different than their adoptive families. At a time in one’s youth when being accepted is so important, transracial adoptees struggle to find their place at home and in the world.
This video also brings to light several important factors that should be examined in the transracial adoption process. The interviewees suggest that parents and adoption workers pay closer attention to the reasons people adopt children of other races, the importance of redefining a family as multicultural, and helping transracial adoptees remain connected to their culture of origin.
Among the compelling interviews in this video is the personal and professional account of John Raible, EdD, a transracial adoptee and transracial adoptive parent, who went on to teach and write about multiracial adoption issues. The video also includes bonus footage which was shot ten years after the original video, following John and Michelle’s experiences a decade later.
Candid and informative, this video is a useful tool for professionals, parents, and anyone interested in learning more about transracial adoption.
