The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of adoption. Specifically, it will argue why interracial adoption should be allowed and why single parent adoptions should be allowed, as well. Interracial adoption (often referred to as "Transracial Adoption" or TRA), has become far more common in the United States, especially with all the attention stars such as Madonna and Angelina Jolie have received after adopting children from other countries and nationalities. Interracial adoption works because it helps place more children in loving homes and it helps create more understanding between the races, as well.
In 1994, the Federal Government passed the Multi Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA), and in 1996, they passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act. These two acts ensured that race could not be used as a reason to deny placement of a child in an adoption or into a foster home (Simon, and Roorda 3). Thus, according to law, race cannot be used as a determining factor in an adoption, and it should not be a factor.
One reason interracial adoptions became popular is the number of black children available for adoption. Traditionally, white families adopt white children, but there are fewer blacks who adopt, and this leaves more black children without adoptive families. One expert notes, "Blacks adopt at higher rates than their white counterparts, controlling for socioeconomic class, but there are not enough black adopters to adopt all of the black children in need of placement" (Fogg-Davis 4). Thus, interracial adoption guarantees more children a chance at adoption and a new life.
Perhaps one of the biggest arguments against the practice of interracial adoption is the argument about how it affects the child. In fact, many social workers and adoption experts believe that interracial adoptions are not in the best interest of the child, who will lose the valuable and vital aspects of growing up with members...