Embracing your child's racial identity means embracing his friends, too.
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The Talk: Revealing the Realities of Racism to My African-American Child
Growing up in Trinidad, I didn’t use the word black to describe myself. But as the mother of two black children in the U.S., I walk the fine line of raising them to believe they are capable and worthy while understanding that everyone in this country has been taught to discount their value.
Connecting With the Black Community
Find ways to bond and connect with the culture of your adopted African American child.
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“This Is For Real”
An unexpected emergency tests the strength of a mother-daughter bond.
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“At Home in Two Worlds”
"From an early age, my children needed to know where they belonged—and the birth country where they came from."
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“Overcoming All Odds”
Although we knew our South American-born son would face challenges growing up in a predominantly white middle class suburb, we were totally unprepared for what was to come.
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Are You Considering Transracial Adoption?
If your family is thinking about adopting a child of a different race, spend some time answering these six questions to help determine if it's right for you.
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“Race…and Starbucks”
My parents were immigrants from Germany and India, my husband also comes from a mixed background; we have one biological child, and one adopted from South Korea. What makes my daughter Korean? What makes her American?
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Who You Calling a Tiger-Mom?
As the parent of an Asian child, I am constantly called upon to help my daughter navigate between diminished achievements and heightened failures.
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“Black, White, and the Cornrow in Between”
While it might have been “just hair” to me, the emotions were far more tangled for them, with roots deep into the history of oppression between our two peoples.
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8 Smart Diversity Strategies
Use these tips for building cultural diversity for children in your family, community, and school.
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5 Ways to Talk with Your Child About Racism
Talking about racism makes most of us uncomfortable. Still, parents of transracially adopted children should resist the urge not to talk. Here's how.
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Teens Speak Out About Open Adoption
Three adolescents share their experiences with open adoption, and how they feel about their relationships with their birth family.
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Saying No to Racism
You can offer your children support—and the tools they need to fight back.
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Empowering Children and Teens of Color Who Face Racism
White parents do not have the experience of feeling vulnerable or targeted based on race, so telling a transracially adopted child "I know how you feel" isn't right—but silence is also not the answer. Adoptees and experts discuss how parents should speak out and take action.
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Why Race Matters for Teens
Teens need their parents' guidance in forming their racial identity.
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“Mommy, Were You Adopted?”
I'm not sure why I never told my children. But when they asked, I knew it was time to end the secrecy for good.
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Becoming My Own Beauty Role Model
"Growing up, makeup felt like a mask—a cover-up for my true inner self."
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Ask AF: Encouraging a Cohesive Racial and Cultural Identity
“We have always tried to make sure our internationally adopted son feels proud of his heritage. This year, when the class was writing about Thanksgiving, he asked if he could skip the assignment because people from his birth country do not celebrate Thanksgiving. I know I need to talk to him, but I’m not sure where to start.”
Preparing Our Children to Talk About Race
When you form a transracial family, you must build in a system to combat racism.
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