If you look around the internet for any period of time, you will find lots of people who are anti-adoption and have lots of reasons why adoption is “wrong”, “bad”, etc. Throw in the word “transracial” before the word adoption, and you will find that many more critics.

I have posted many posts on the issues and difficulties involved with transracial adoptions.

For a change of pace, here are my top 10 reasons why transracial adoption can be wonderful!

1. Most of the children available for adoption are non-white, and yet “minority race” children are the hardest to find adoptive families for. Most of the time the alternative to being adopted is growing up as a foster child or growing up in an orphanage. The majority of adoptive parents are white. If transracial adoptions did not occur, many children would not find families and many parents who desire to adopt, would not be able to do so.

2. In a transracial adoption, both the adopted children and the adoptive parents are blessed with the opportunities to learn about, respect, embrace and incorporate another culture into their lives. Transracial adoption broadens the lives of all involved.

3. Children who grow up in a transracial family can grow up to be adults who can see the world without prejudice.

4. Transracial families combat stereotypes.

5. Transracial adoption leads the adoptive parents to think about the world outside of their own comfortable, familiar slice of life and many times results in the adoptive parents having a life-long commitment to helping their child’s country or community of birth.

6. Transracial adoption makes the world seem a whole lot smaller and the people in the world a whole lot more connected.

7. Transracial adoption touches many more people than just the adoptive parents and the child. Extended family, friends, neighbors, etc. are affected and many end up with changed feelings towards people of other “races”.

8. While not perfect, transracial adoption is often the best possible option for orphaned children.

9. Transracial adoption unites a child that needs a family with a family that has the true desire and ability to parent that child. It’s a beautiful thing.

10. Transracial adoption is love. Transracial adoption is a parent or parents, looking at a child and saying, “You may not look like me, but I promise to love you with my whole heart and give you all I can. A family is not made up of people who look like each other, a family is made up of people who love each other.”