A Review of Empirical Research Involving the Transracial Adoption of African American Children

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted concerning the adoption of African American children by White families, challenging the opposition by African American professionals. The consensus of the findings has been that African American children have not been psychologically harmed by these placements. When proponents of transracial adoption have referred to studies, they have uncritically accepted conclusions supporting transracial adoptions without commenting upon the soundness of the researchers' methodology and the extent to which the conclusions were consistent with the limitations in the studies. The authors critically evaluate the empirical literature and discuss suggestions and strategies for African American professionals.