Hair New Era

Yesterday I was a guest on the Al Sharpton show! A connection I know from the workshop in San Francisco directed me to Elinor Tatum, publisher of New Amsterdam and co-host of the show. The subject was cross-cultural adoption, and they discussed all the political issues behind domestic adoption and race--whether white people should be able to adopt black children (let's face it: black children in foster care outnumber white children by up to 10 times in some areas of this country, the reasons for this are also major problems), how should parents approach identity formation, etc. I had about 15 minutes of fame when they dialed me in. I brushed up on my statistics and facts so I could weigh into the conversation, which I'm well-versed in already, but it turns out they were more interested in my story. They were incredulous about how I went so long without even knowing my black heritage, and it reminded me how peculiar my story really is. How strong ignorance and denial are, especially when supported by your parents. How strange that social workers found it okay to lie in order to place a child in a loving home. Do the ends justify the means? I am not bitter. But it could have been done a better way.