Black Folk Don't: Adopt

In this episode we look at adoption and the black community. As usual, it's more complex than you think! Tune in to new episodes every Monday, and share your thoughts with @blackfolkdont on Twitter. A special presentation of BlackPublicMedia.org, directed by Angela Tucker, and supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[@so.many.obstacles]

I actually plan to adopt one day. I've never been the type of woman that feels like I won't complete unless I give birth. There are many children waiting to be taken in an loved.

[@dontmindme.imjustafraidofe9327]

The only reason I want to adopt is to have a kid. I’m not looking to be a hero; just a parent.

[@cruzan8183]

I was adopted and it changed my life.I was formally adopted . Prior to being adopted , I was in a foster home. I cannot overemphasize how transformative being adopted was for me. I went from being a disruptive kid that couldn't read to being good in science and ending up working in healthcare. My adopted dad taught me how to read and I develop a love for learning. Please adopt if you can. Mentoring is the next best thing.

[@kaybeeMoAfrika]

I couldn't agree more. I like this kind of adoption because it's not all based on social recognition or heroism, but it's based taking children in and providing them with a family.

[@tigereyes5]

The informal adoption culture is a great point and one that shouldn't be ignored. My dad was "adopted" back in Nigeria having lost his parents to the Biafran war. However, I am a little frustrated that this video doesn't address the very real issue of black children in the system that are struggling to be adopted and that black parents are less active in the formal system. Informal adoption is wonderful and a part of many black cultures around the world but in the West especially there are black children in state custody that have not been able to find homes and that needs to be addressed.

[@mercylago4744]

I would adopt and I definitely think children left in the system need to be talked about 😔

[@trevorbrown_artist]

I want to be where all these beautiful Black folks are.

[@joshorne]

As a white man, let me share this with you. I just discovered a new term. It's called "Woke". As in, someone that is awakened from their (media induced) dream of what we thought was reality. Some years ago, I wanted to put an Obama for President bumper sticker on my car. But I was afraid to. Why? Because I feared that other whites in my community would vandalize, not just my car, but my house as well. Black people actually had it easier. The white racists would not bother them, because they "understood" that it was just black people supporting a black candidate. But how dare a white man do that! They would have said, "What's wrong with you?! Why would you support a black political candidate? " Now think about it. It's pretty sad when a white man fears other white men because I might support a single black political candidate. But that's how it is. And by the way, I live in the Northeast USA. Not the south. I see more racism in places like New York State that I do when I visit the deep south.

[@EnterprisingSidney]

Absolutely! I am a formal adoptive parent, but have had many children live with me. We had others live with us when I was in school.

[@RosySpeaks]

I plan to adopt

[@sakurakou2009]

I plan to adopt when I get my own house and job , the problem is in my country they require you to be married to adopt ,they don't allow single people to adopt children which is why it's problem for me ... but I will keep trying hopefully one day I can .

[@DriDriezy03]

Love your channel! Addressing great issues!

[@Evbddgegeh]

We handle life different because it's in our bones we come from tribes and we always have been just a moving people. If you just keep going you dont have time to brag or wait for a reward. So we can't handle not being what we are that's why slaves took in other slave children, or one women would breastfeed all the children so the others can work (childcare😳). It's so deep we can't help but to be this AMAZING!!!

[@naya6593]

bakari Fuller MVP Comment❤️❤️❤️❤️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@2blakandbold]

Mine was on Paper sry folks ! Children are in the system!

[@thedrw100]

Hello, I'm a new subscriber but this is my second comment today as there are great things to talk about at this site. First our family has always been color blind even as a young kid back in the 50s I had black friends, you see though my area was fairly nice we only had to walk about e blocks to be in abject white poverty & another 6 blocks to be in black poverty, of course not all people in any of these ares were poor but not many were uP & comers. I put myself thru a Catholic HS & 1yr of business school I married & we had 2kids in 3 yrs & decided to adopt a child but because my wife could still have kids they acted like we were freaks, not only could we not adopt a white or black child & even a disabled child we just couldn't adopt period. We were forced t.o go overseas where we adopted a wonderful Korean child. That was 36 yrs ago & today my son a minister barely making it adopt a Korean baby 10 yrs ago & a child age 5 who had spent 4.8 yrs in an orphanage in Uganda. We we see our kids , we don't see white ,. black or Asian children we see our children. Adoption is right for all races ,young or old , African Americans , Asian Americans or white Americans just need to love these kids & BE COLOR BLIND. We are a mixed family with 14 loving grandkids. God Bless........Mike

[@BklynWho]

Those children appreciate your love and kindness. But color exists and it has weight in the lives of those who are of color. Being color blind is not a good thing. You should see color because it helps acknowledge the fact that the experience of those who are not white in America -and the world at large- is not the same.

[@aryafin]

wow, if only there could be more people like you Mike, Blesses to whole of your family.

[@kamala80]

Great work as usual!

[@FineAfroHairHappines]

So true, we don't do adoption with "paperwork", has been so for many generations across the diaspora. That paperwork can be for good or for bad, I'm unsure.

[@jonathanblanchet1370]

At 4:14 that nice gentleman from Arkansas answered my question. Thank you.

[@evabrooks7451]

I adopted 3 small children from foster care.... not related... and one of my daughters is Asian... so BOOM 💥 BLACK FOLKS DO !!!!

[@1234IZM]

I have both an aunt and an uncle who aren't biologically related to our family, but is still considered our blood. My grandparents took them in when they were children, raised them, and they became part of the family. My uncle was too young to remember his biological parents, and didn't know he was adopted until one of my drunk uncles told him during an argument. I'm not even sure if they were officially adopted, or just got absorbed into the family.

[@ladyc510]

I know several single and married Black women who adopted. If the child is the same race or ethnicity , most people think the child is biologically related.

[@itsmallory3416]

Loved hearing from the brother from Pine Bluff,Arkansas. Thats where Im from!

[@jnyerere]

This was a very informative episode.

[@vineflower]

great series .....

[@jeeptoroam]

One Church, One Child was founded in 1980 in Illinois with the goal “to find one family in every one African American church in Illinois to adopt one child.” The term One Church, One Child was coined by the founder, Father George Clements. This effort has since spread nationally. For info on its efforts in Baltimore: articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-06-06/news/1993157097_1_church-members-arundel-county-anne-arundel

[@2blakandbold]

Hmmm some what touchy topic for me ! I am writing about my Adoption today . It happens !

[@kariziebarth7581]

It's wonderful that black communities take in the children of friends and family in need. But, I think this issue has totally missed the point. We NEED more black families to FORMALLY adopt children who are already in the state systems. These kids are hurting and need love. They need their cultures and communities. Taking in your drunk brother's kids is wonderful and compassionate, but it doesn't help the kids already in the system.

[@SpfySpaceJam]

I know this vid is old but glad i found it

[@shopobjetdart]

There are plenty of Black orphans in the system that would disagree...

[@Skinsbison1906]

Great episode

[@Ajjosan]

my friend who is white was adopted by black people

[@evaosirus6055]

I’ve always wanted to adopt. Ever since I was little I decided I wouldn’t have my own since there’s enough homeless kids in the world anyways

[@roberth.5363]

We know black people adopt. But not enough black people adopt.

[@OUTSPOKENDIVA]

Great Episode about a Very Big Myth in the Black Culture

[@mirfirsts.8923]

I was "taken in" by my sister at 11. She was only 21. Never adopted

[@naya6593]

Because we don’t put it on paper or go through their system it’s automatically something we don’t do. Please Half the Westside was raised by a Coleman my tribe didn’t need papers or government or recognition or permission.

[@fgfg633]

Not sure how noble "black adoption" is as opposed to the reasons behind it: more fatherless households due to high incarceration rates and general absenteeism (i.e., more broken families and single mothers). Informal adoptions in the black community is out of familial necessity and survival, not nobleness.

[@trippylongstockin6774]

not true,they are also on the list,but being put at the very end of the waiting list. ll

[@tamarabrewster2562]

Hello everyone. I’m black and was adopted by my black mama and daddy. No connection to my biological family.

[@MrChronic242]

My mom always took in children whose parents were too drunk to care for them, or who were being raised by older siblings. We treat them as brothers and sisters and they get to go private schools while living with us. It's nothing official but it's being done.

[@stephanied.5725]

adopt a black child now and stop waiting until...

[@summer2011leggo]

I want Jay Z and Beyoncé to adopt a little white baby. That wod be interesting to see

[@annt.7785]

+Kathryn Dorsey And there are thousands of other kids that need homes.

[@aryafin]

Blacks would never adopt those '' thousands of other kids'' you talking about Ann. sorry to say. Black should adopt more blacks at least. I would respect Beyonce more if she would adopt 5 kids from some poor African country. forget Combodia.

[@annt.7785]

3dCurved You don't know what's going on except for what the media feeds you, so shut your mouth on things you know nothing about, thank you.

[@aryafin]

***** please explain to me whats going on? tell me.

[@aryafin]

***** I doubt they do. But I wish they do.

[@thedrw100]

Ps make it legal where you can because if a da or mom passes nothing goes to the quite adopted kids from our government

[@leannestrong1000]

Who's to say black people can't (or shouldn't adopt). "The best home is a white home." No, the best home is really a home with loving, supportive, financially stable parents who are willing and able to take care of a child. It doesn't matter what race they are.

[@treehuggerddave]

🌳welcome home to all who know NOW how love knows sacred space is a home 🏡 that the family co~creates fully empowered 🌈💋🌏 thank you for helping humanity to 👀

[@shoeshane6494]

Adoption is a legal term. Accepting someone into your home or family isn't adoption. I'm assuming this video was made to dispell the stereotype that black folks don't adopt, but you have only managed to suggest the opposite.

[@naya6593]

Oh I see because we call it something different it’s not so. So dumb the same care goes into the job no matter wtf you people call it. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@2blakandbold]

Mine was on Paper sry folks ! Children are in the system!

[@yes3009]

mine was paper too along with my twin brother.

[@2blakandbold]

Good to know we're not alone!I was writing a book last year ! I hope to pick it back up soon! Your not alone , I also have a brother that was also for a short time a child of the state!

[@yes3009]

+2blakandbold just found them last month and I do plan on writing a book my mother's okay with it! it was amazing to say the least

[@2blakandbold]

Wow!I found my years ago ! A good and bad thing ! The story is unbelievable especially how I found them but it wasn't anything like I imagined it!I have two other siblings !A grand total of three.

[@2blakandbold]

:) Write it ! Stay encouraged ,too many don't tell their truth!