A Review of Empirical Research Involving the Transracial Adoption of African American Children
Author(s)
Alexander, Rudolph, Jr.; Curtis, Carla M.
Abstract
Findings from studies of transracial adoption of African-American children by white families, which have challenged African-American professional opposition, indicate that the children have not been psychologically harmed by the placements. When proponents of transracial adoption have referred to studies, they have uncritically accepted conclusions supporting transracial adoptions without commenting on the soundness of the researchers’ methodology and the extent to which the conclusions were consistent with the limitations in the studies. Here, the empirical literature is critically evaluated and suggestions and strategies for African-American social workers are discussed.
