What we can learn from Melissa Harris-Perry
Last week, a segment appeared on Melissa Harris-Perry’s show on MSNBC that reviewed the best photos of the year and asked a panel of actors and comedians to give them humorous captions. It was supposed to be a light-hearted look back at the year, but things went awry. One of the photos was of Mitt and Ann Romney surrounded by all of their grandchildren . . . a photo tradition the Romney's do every year. This year, Mitt was holding his newly adopted African-American grandson, the only person of . . .
An interview with adult adoptee Angela Tucker and Closure filmmaker Bryan Tucker
Earlier this month Mark and I had the chance to preview a documentary about an adult adoptee’s search for her birthparents. I love documentary movies, and I really appreciate hearing perspectives of adults who were adopted, so I was excited to see tis film. It was so well done, and the story was honest and moving. Angela Tucker was adopted as a young child, and her search for her birth family takes some unexpected turns. Her husband Bryan is the direcctor of the film, and I’ll let him . . .
Davion’s plea for a family (and the 101,000 he represents)
Over the last few weeks, the story of Davion spread like wildfire across social media channels. Davion was a foster youth who had been waiting most of his life for an adoptive family. His desperation led him to visit a local church to plead for someone to adopt him. "I'll take anyone," Davion said. "Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don't care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be." [source] His story tugged at the nation’s heartstrings, and I saw scores of . . .
An open letter to my professor about China’s one-child policy (GUEST POST)
This post was written by Jenni "Fang" Lee, an adoptee from China, who generously allowed me to republish here. You can watch Jenni's TEDx talk about her story here. She is also one of the subjects in the incredible documentary Somewhere Between. This letter was written in response to a professor's insensitivity about girls in China. Dear Professor: First of all, please do not talk to us like we are children. Second of all, please do not tell an entire class while laughing and cracking jokes . . .
Should adoptive parents change their children’s ethnic given names to avoid prejudice later in life?
Several recent news stories have shed light on an unfortunate xenophobia in regards to names and employment. Earlier this year, the Freakonomics podcast report that there is evidence that a name can influence how a child performs in school and even her career opportunities. More recently, a NY Times blogger shared her discovery that typing in traditionally Black-sounding names yielded a google image search of mugshots, which did not repeat when she searched for images related to more . . .
How the Christian orphan care movement may be enabling child abandonment
Last week I got to speak at Idea Camp about orphan care. I shared my concerns about the trend of churches opening orphanages in third world countries instead of working at keeping children together with their parents. I suggested that the solution to poverty orphans (children who are placed as a result of poverty instead of the death of a parent) should be to provide resources to the family, instead of requiring the child to move into an orphanage for assistance. I shared my belief that the . . .
What I want you to know about having a brother placed for adoption
What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by an anonymous reader. My mum died in 2007, but she died with a weight off her shoulders. Her son, our brother, had found her 16 years before. It was a wonderful reunion and she and our brother . . .
What i want you to know: I am 65 and still searching for my birth family
What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Nancy Stetson . I was adopted into a wonderful family. My dad was a doctor and knew my birth right mom. Met her in the hospital and I turned out to be a private adoption. I did have a great life . . .
what i want you to know about having parents who were adopted
What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Annie Berical. I am the child of adopted parents. That's right: both of my parents were adopted as babies by separate families, grew up, met each other, and bonded (I imagine) over their . . .
that’s what SHE said: relaxed parents and summer vacation, sex talks, quitting FOX News, in praise of daycare, and more . . .
Straight Allies, White Anti-Racists: Labels That Mean Nothing to Me Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I’d rather experience people–and their politics–through unlikely, awkward, strained, challenging, beautiful relationships built over time. That way, when we do clash or differ, we love each other enough to express the full range of our raw emotions – cry, yell, storm out – and always return to build the deeper, more intimate connections we need to take on the world together, truly united. . . .