When it comes to adoption, Black girls have a better chance of being chosen than boys. But that’s if the couple adopting is white and will even consider an African-American child in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone wants a Black child, The New York Times reports that a study conducted by researchers at New York University and the California Institute of Technology says that the couples studied prefer Caucasian or Hispanic children (mostly because they wanted children who look like them). But what’s really both sad and interesting about this study is that African-American boys are only considered if price is an issue. In other words, some couples only consider adopting our boys if they get them at a bargain. No, really this is true, I’m not kidding.
These preferences against boys and black babies translate into differences in adoption closing costs, which can often be expensive. In other words, people seem willing to overcome their racial or gender biases if they can get a good deal on the babies they’re less interested in.
“[T]he increase in desirability of a girl relative to a boy can be compensated by a decrease of approximately $16,000 in adoption finalization costs,” the authors write. “Similarly, the increase in desirability of a non-African-American baby with respect to an African-American baby (both of unknown gender) is equivalent to a decrease of at least $38,000 in adoption finalization cost.”
To me, it looks like that fear is also a factor here too. Fear of a child that will grow up to be a Black Man is too much to handle. Of course no one is saying that. Instead, it’s called a fear of ‘dysfunctional behavior’ that causes couples to choose girls and consider them a ’safer’ choice. But the truth is dysfunction cannot be so neatly categorized and such behavior can show up in anyone—even one’s biological children. So believing that a black boy is trouble just because he’s a black boy is just plain wrong. What’s also interesting, however, is that the views are not shared by those seeking to adopt from other countries. The study found that foreign adoptive parents are more open to children of all races and both genders.
While this study is clearly about African American children being adopted here in the United States, I can’t help but think of the countless orphans who need homes in Haiti. I hope the Americans that decide to open their hearts and their homes won’t leave those boys behind either. And clearly, we need to step up. We have a responsibility to see about our boys (and those of Haiti too).
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