In this recent post, I talked about a BBC photo article that told the heart breaking story of street children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The only comment I got on the post said, “I don't understand how anybody can be "against" international adoption when this is the reality of the world.” That comment really hit the proverbial nail on the head for me. The question deserves repeating.

How can people be against transracial or international adoption, when the realities of this world have children living alone in sewer drains? How can people be against transracial adoption when the realities of this world have children stacked upon children in orphanages? How can people be against transracial adoption when young orphan girls are often kidnapped to be used for manual labor or worse…the sex industry? How can people be against transracial adoption when children in third world countries with serious illnesses have very little hope of living to adulthood in their country of birth, but can live a long and full life in the United States? How can people be against adoption when so many children have no love in their life? How can people be against transracial adoption when children are literally starving to death? I don’t see how any one could honestly suggest that living in any of the above scenarios with people of the same “color” or nationality as you, would be a better alternative to being loved and cherished in a forever family, who happens to be of a different color or live in a different country.

Now don’t get me wrong. Those of you who know me know how seriously I take racial identity and cultural pride and how seriously I take my job of raising black and Asian children. I know that race is not an issue to be “poo-pooed” or ignored and I know how important heritage is. I know that corruption exists in adoption, and that those who stand to benefit financially can do a lot of harm in the name of “doing good”, while reaping the profits. I know that children adopted transracially often have difficult issues to deal with. I know that children who are adopted from any of the above scenarios should not grow up expected to feel “grateful” for being “saved” and I know that no parent should adopt a child for any reason, including wanting to save someone, other than wanting to love and parent that child. I know that transracial adoption is not perfect. I know that it is not the answer to the horrible problems of poverty, illness, famine, social stigmas, etc. I know that keeping a child with their birth family or in their country of birth is the ideal situation if at all possible.

And yet I know that it is not possible, due to death, extreme poverty, illness and other harsh realities, for far too many children to stay with their birth families. Far too many children are suffering. Far too many children are alone in this world with very little hope. And I know that adoption gives hope and most importantly, love, to many children who otherwise may grow up without. I believe that uniting children with families that can care for them and love them is a much better option than letting them grow up alone in this world.

Adoption is not a perfect solution, but we do not live in a perfect world with nice neat solutions for every problem. Adoptive parents do need to care and work to give back and help better the situation in other countries and our own so that the need for adoption can be decreased or eliminated.

But until that day comes, and there are no orphans, I believe adoption is hope, adoption is love, adoption is family and adoption is life, for many children.