What White Parents Should Know about Transracial Adoption

August 1, 2021

Guida-Richards didn't learn until age 19 that her white American parents had adopted her from Colombia. When she tried to read up on adoption, she found mostly materials written by agencies, mental health professionals, or parents who had adopted; there were few resources from an adoptee's perspective and almost none from a transracial and transnational perspective. This book is an attempt to bridge the gap. Guida-Richards writes that adoptees often struggle with self-destructive thoughts or insecurities, so parents who adopt must learn to help their kids process these emotions. She discusses microaggressions, implicit bias, white saviorism, and other challenges that multiracial kids face, with a special focus on the complications that adoption (particularly by a white parent) can add to these struggles. Her focus is on transnational transracial adoptions; other books may better address transracial adoption within the U.S., specifically of Black and Indigenous children (see Susan Devan Harness's Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption). Guida-Richards ends her book with responses to a survey of adoptees and parents. VERDICT A much-needed volume from an adoptee's perspective; sure to be a must-read for parents who adopt. Recommend alongside Nicole Chung's memoir All You Can Ever Know.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 15, 2021
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.