Fade to Black
By An Adopt4Life Community Parent
The experiences of Black adoptees and adoptive parents aren’t usually included in mainstream media. However, there have been some inspiring projects that should be celebrated for shedding light on the legacy, challenges and triumphs of adoption in the Black community.
Book: Motherhood So White
All moms deal with choosing baby names, potty training, finding their village, and answering their kid's tough questions, but if you are raising a Black child, you must deal with a lot more than that. Especially if you're a single Black mom… and adopting.
Nefertiti Austin shares her story of starting a family through adoption as a single Black woman. In this unflinching account of her parenting journey, Nefertiti examines the history of adoption in the African American community, faces off against stereotypes of single Black moms, and confronts the reality of what it looks like to raise children of color and answer their questions about racism in modern-day America.
TV Series: Colin in Black and White
Before he was a world-class athlete in the NFL or a human rights activist, Colin Kapernick was just like any other adoptee. This Netlix series follows his early life as a Black child in search of his identity while being raised by white parents in the 80s.
TV Series: Bel-air
A dramatic spin-off series based on the sit-com Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Kinship care in the Black community is explored through a coming-of-age story where classism, identity and crime collide.
Film: Woman King
Aside from this film being a historical account of an all- warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries, it also unveils a family secret that changes the trajectory of a young teen’s life. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies.
The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” is a communal parenting style that has stood the test of time. Black History Month is a great opportunity to learn about the connectedness of Black families and hopefully these stories can become conversation starters between family and friends.
The opinions expressed in blogs posted reflect their author and do not represent any official stance of Adopt4Life. We respect the diversity of opinions within the adoption, kinship and customary care community and hope that these posts will stimulate meaningful conversations.
