A case study approach of the attitudes of African-American parents who have inracially adopted toward Caucasian-American parents who have transracially adopted African-American children

This study explores the attitudes of African-American parents who adopted same-race children toward Caucasian parents who adopt African-American children transracially. Most previous attitudinal studies discussing these attitudes have been quantitative with participants who are not adoptive parents. Drawing on 9 in-depth, semi-structured interviews, this case study method explores the attitudes and reasoning around these attitudes of these adoptive parents. The African-American adoptive parents in this study had adopted either formally or informally, and they had adopted either African American and/or African-American/mixed children.;The expected themes found were color blind, shared fate, exploitation, racial identity formation, and symbolic interactionism. All of the participants were opponents of the color blind theme and were aware of racial and adoption hierarchies. Four of the participants mentioned the stigma and/or discrimination that Caucasian parents share with their children, and only 2 of these discussed the way Caucasians can change when they adopt African-American children. Five of the participants mentioned exploitation in adoption of African Americans when discussing their adoption attitudes. Six of the participants discussed the principles that make up symbolic interactionism, showing concern that the African-American children raised in White homes would not learn the skills they needed to thrive in this racially divided world. Some felt that Caucasian parents could provide this for them by pursuing an African-American community, and some felt that it was not possible. There was some controversy about whether or not African-American children raised in White homes could have a healthy racial identity. The reactions ranged from racial identity is not important to it is extremely important and not possible for Caucasians to instill a healthy racial identity in their Black children.;Two new themes were found. The importance of church and spirituality was a new theme that emerged, and this was mentioned by 7 participants. The other new theme that emerged with 6 participants was the importance of gender and skin color in recognizing African-American children's needs. Most of the participants did not question the connection or affection of Caucasian adoptive parents; however, they did express their concerns about those parents' ability or willingness to meet their children's specific cultural needs.