cover image What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee’s Perspective on Its History, Nuances, and Practices

What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee’s Perspective on Its History, Nuances, and Practices

Melissa Guida-Richards. North Atlantic, $18.95 trade paper (264p) ISBN 978-1-62317-582-5

Adoptee Thoughts podcaster Guida-Richards (Bedtime, the Ultimate Battle) takes on racism in the adoption industry in this trenchant survey. Born in Colombia and adopted by a family in the United States, Guida-Richards shares the trauma and complex emotions she experienced after she learned about her adoption at age 19: she struggled with her identity and was accused of being ungrateful if she asked questions. In highlighting what she considers the systemic racism in adoption, Guida-Richards calls out practices such as agencies charging prospective parents a higher fee to adopt a white infant than to adopt a Black infant. Additionally, she writes, adoptions in America have historically functioned to “uphold racially homogenous families.” Countering white savior attitudes, color blindness, toxic positivity, and entitlement is critical for creating more ethical adoptions, Guida-Richards suggests. To that end, she encourages prospective parents to ask themselves tough questions before they choose to adopt (such as “What kind of anti-racist work am I involved in?”), to accept the truth that their child will face racism, and to be active listeners. She’s incisive, and her arguments are eye-opening. This is a powerful, worthwhile addition to the growing body of work on race and parenting. Agent: Tina Wainscott, the Seymour Agency. (Oct.)