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[Editor’s Note]
A person’s race or skin color can affect many areas of their life. Some people judge others based on their ethnic background. The word ethnic refers to the culture, religion, or language a group of people may share. For example, African-American’s share a different ethnic background than the one shared by Asian-American’s.
These are all things that can play a role in the world of adoption also. Some families adopt children who do not have the same skin color or ethnic background as they do. This type of adoption is called transracial adoption.
Transracial, or transcultural, adoption is when a child of one race or ethnic background is adopted by a family of another race or ethnic background. This may happen either by international or domestic adoption.
It can be difficult for families because other people on the street, at the store, or maybe in school will sometimes ask hurtful questions about why the child does not look like the rest of their family. This is one reason that some people do not believe that transracial adoption is a good idea.
Some other people do not believe transracial adoption is okay because they are afraid that a child will not understand the culture or ethnic background of their birth family if their adoptive family is of a different race.
It takes a lot of work to understand race, color and culture when a family is a part of a transracial adoption. It can be very rewarding though, and it can lead to loving, forever families.
Our featured writer Martin comes from such a family and he writes about how the color of his skin impacts his life.
 On Being Martin
You'll never guess what happened to me!! I was at Kathy's Kwik Stop looking for the grape Kool Aid, and the store clerk thought I had stolen the Kool Aid just because I was black. I don't know why. Then later on
that day, my mom told me that two boys walked out of the store and the clerk followed them before they got on their bikes! The clerk found two bags of chips and a soda.
I learned that life is going to be a little tougher when you’re black, because of the racism. For example, when my mom went to get a car part for my dad's car, the junk yard clerk said that a bunch of colored people had stolen some gift cards. He also said that all colored people are bad, that they are thieves.
When you go to a new school everybody thinks you're a gangster just because you’re black. At my old house this one girl said that she only liked me because of my skin tone. A lot of people say that I'm not black because of the way I talk. Some black people say that my mama should teach me how to talk properly. Some say that I'm way to polite
to be a black person. People think that I'm a wannabe. No matter what you say it's not going to change my skin tone. I'm happy the way God made me.
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