I hope this is true, and that Angelina Jolie ends up with egg on her face. As a black woman, I have to ask myself why Americans adopt children from half way around the world when there are so many orphans right here in the U.S. — especially children of color — whom no one seems to want?

Usually, I assume it’s because white people want to have white or Asian (read: “almost white”) babies and not black ones, but Angelina doesn’t seem to care. Perhaps it’s cooler to adopt a black African baby than a black American one.

Whatever the reason, I think it’s selfish to an almost immoral extent.

Matuko,

Obviously you know absolutely NOTHING about U.S. adoptions. If you were educated about the subject you would know that many couples go through a long and arduous process, just to qualify for adoptions. If they are lucky enough to find a child, they face an uncertain future in that, the “natural” mother may change their mind, forcing the adoptive parent or parents to return the child back to the “mother.”

This has happened to two of my acquaintances, so I think it is safe to assume that this occurs often with U.S. adoptions. This is one of the reasons that couples turn to foreign countries to adopt. It has NOTHING to do with race.

Next time you attempt to make a point about racism in this country, at least take the time to get your facts straight.

Oh and one more thing, your comment refering to Asians as “almost white” was offensive. Kind of hard to get your point across about racism when you, yourself, use racist language!

The lady in the picture is very healthy–overweight even. Zahara was starving when Angelina got her. If you look at the old pictures of her, you can tell she’d been a starving child. I sincerely doubt this lady is really the baby’s mother–unless of course she intentionally starved her child.

Matuko, you have to kidding me. What kind of an idiot are you??? Angelina adopted from one of the most poverty-stricken country there is now you are putting her down because of it???

Youre one of those people where if Angelina did adopt in the U.S, you will complain “why didnt she adopt in California”. THen when adopts in California, you’ll complain “how come she adopt from southern cali”. Youre one of those people that will always complain and will never be happy.

I believe saving any child is a good deed regardless of country of origin. Angelina’s actions are so much better than other celebrity who adopts….have you seen Sharon Stone’s two gorgeous white babies? Go complain about her for heavens sake.

In Ethopia there are women that are forced to have sex, and they have no means to get contriception.
In America. We got women acting like whores and giving away their babies to the state. Or, they get them taken away from the state because they don’t take care of their children.
I’d rather adopt from any other country than this one.
With the welfare system the way it is, the overcrowding of prisons, medical clinics run by the cities, counties, states??
My tax dollars I give is WAY enough.
Angelina had said many times that she is in love with Africa. I highly doubt she thought she was being “cool”.
Get the chip off your shoulder already. How many black american babies have YOU adopted.
Take care of your own. Why leave it up to the white people??

To Lisa and Kerry….
I pitty you!!!!!!!

That one was for “Matuko”….

….and “Fin”.

If you knew anything about Angelina other than that she’s dating Brad Pitt secretly, you would know that in her work as a UN Ambassador, she has worked with children’s causes around the world. She simply identified a country with children that could use her money to make something of themselves – and if you’ve heard her talk about her kids, you know they are – so that one day they can go back and help their home countries.

I agree. Some ppl here NEED to get educated about the topic of adoption.

No one ever said the children who are being adopted MUST be an orphans. They are put up for adoption for numerous reasons eg. parents cannot afford to keep the baby, too young to keep the baby, home is poverty stricken baby will die if stucked with family..etc..etc…

I am SO SICK AND TIRED of ppl who continuously bash Angelina and her charity work because they are so stuck on the Brad/Jennifer triangle,and feel they need to take Jen’s side by attacking Angelina when they havent the slightest clue what she really does.

Do you ppl really think Angelina stole Zahara from the family? That she deliberately took this child away from a happy home when she could’ve adopted another child? Use your brains people!!

I dont care whether this is Z’s real mother or not, it has nothing to do with anything, and she seems to be happy for her daughter who has found a new healthy life. So get over it!

Fin,

It is spelled P-I-T-Y, not P-I-T-T-Y.

What did I write that inspires pity from you? Do you even know what the word means? You don’t know it is spelled!

I hope you re-read your post and see how ignorant and racist your comment was.

Go get yourself educated instead of living in that very small world of your’s. The reason why racism continues to exist is because there are still narrow-minded and ignorant like you. I hope you dont teach your children your values.

For the record, for U.S. immigration purposes, the only one of the child’s parents has to be deceased or have disappeared in order for the child to be classified an orphan. If the mother can be shown to be impoverished even by Ethiopian standares, the mother can simply relinquish custody of the child and then the child is adoptable as an orphan through the U.S. Immigration system.

So even if the lady is the child’s mother (and I SO doubt that she is), she HAD to hand over custody in order for the orphan adoption to take place.

Either way, so what.

Uhm. That’s “standards,” not “standares.” *smacks typist*

TO: SHANA
RE: “Take care of your own. Why leave it up to the white people??”

Ummmm you might want to take off the pointy hat before making these comments. Are all black people in America responsible for all black babies? Then I suppose you are responsible for all white babies. Get to it then, start adopting all “your own” white crack babies and mentally/physically diabled babies. Time’s a-wastin Mrs. Sen. Thurmond.

Matuko,
Again….How many black american children have you adopted??
How many black people do you know, that have adopted a black american baby??
It’s not being racist. These are facts.
You many not like it. It may be a bit embarassing for you. But, nonetheless…..

Nana,…Nana?? (laughing) Ok.
Well?? Why??
Why put down white couple for adopting a white babies??
I have two children, and I take care of them.
I don’t WANT to adopt anyone’s children, thank you.
Blacks get mad when they see a white women riding up with her three adopted black children.
You guys can’t have it both ways.

Lisa, you are off base and clearly don’t understand what was being said. There was no racist language in that statement and if you are saying that it is, I think you need to pick up a book on the history of US race relations. YOU don’t get it. Matuko is right, and your argument is pretty simple. The language is not
racist but is merely stating a very bold and blatantly obvious fact:White Americans will travel all over the world to adopt Asian children, but will ignore the children in their own back yard. There is NOTHING altruistic in their actions.
If their hearts were truly big and their motives pure and honest, they would take a child who is not a baby. The problem is that too many people are out looking for the “perfect” baby in this country and to them perfect is blue eyed blonde. The number of black kids that remain in foster care and eventually age out of it is ridiculous. My theory, and it is a bit reductive but the people who make a point of doing this aren’t the brightest crayons in the box anyway, is that they are specifically looking for kids to make them proud. They choose the “model minority” because they are assuming that the kids are bright because of their race and will automatically make them into parents of overachievers…and what parent doesn’t want that?

For reference “almost white” is used to describe light skinned black people as well, sugar. Instead of trying to educate other folks on how your poor friends got screwed during the adoption process, maybe you should pick up a book and actually learn a little something about US race relations. Throwing the word racist around because you don’t like to hear the truth is irresponsible and…stupid..and oh so American. By saying almost white, it clearly is assumed that white people are more comfy dealing with people who are more like them in appearance. Black people have been discriminated against based on appearance since we arrived here. Light skinned black people continue to receive preferential treatment and I AM A LIGHT SKINNED BLACK WOMAN. It is a fact of life. Blue vein societies and the paper bag test were set up to make sure that people above a certain hue did not receive the same priveledges as their lighter skinned counterparts. Even in the media, the ideal Black woman is light skinned with less pronounced features. Seriously, take a look.
Whether or not someone chooses to acknowledge it is their business. I could care less, but you have no authority to deem someone’s use of language racist when they are merely stating a fact.

You seriously need to look at how Asians have been commodified in this country…not just their culture, but the people themselves. That is where the real problem lies.

Why is it that far more people travel around the world to adopt Asian children as opposed to travelling south of the border to adopt Mexican kids??? What is wrong with the children in the next country, or in South America? Only Asia has lax adoption laws? The issue has EVERYTHING to do with race. Or is it easier to just purchase a baby there instead of here? Deciding not to acknowledge it doesn’t make it go away. For some reason people in this country really believe that
Why is it that African American children are being adopted by Canadians at an increasing rate?

Children are aging out of the system because people will not adopt them. That is a fact. That also means that some people would rather adopt from oversees than take care of the kids here.

Matuko, you are dead on. I can’t wait for her to fall flat on her face. And why is she trying to pull a Josephine Baker?

Also, DC has the largest Ethiopian population in the country. There are many people who look like her and are thin. She does not look overweight. The story is that the baby was starving. Who knows how true that is? Hell, there were problems with legalitly of the little boys adoption.

Y do I bother responding to silly uninformed shit?

you guys are all a bunch of idiots.

Shana? Shanananadingdong hohoho

Seriously, there are some ignorant immature bitches on this thread. I don’t like to get nasty but “take care of your own”? That is the most blatantly racist bullshit. There are enough of us making differences, and you silly heifers don’t know anything about circumstances. I don’t come here to defend my blackness or my committment to community. The fact is that most Americans who are in positions to adopt children don’t consider adopting the kids that are already here.

And as far as Shana’s ignorant repitive ass saying that black people get upset when white people adopt black kids, it is usually because they don’t take the time to learn the most basic things about caring for those children. I don’t get upset because the children deserve homes, but when I see a child whose hair is falling out because her parents are too foolish to take her/him to someone who can teach them to care for it I want to curse them out. I feel the same way when black people show the same lack of care for their kids. It is careless and shameful.

TigerLilly: the issue of the child starving is NOT arguable. The pictures do not lie. She was a starving baby. The hospital in the U.S. had to treat her for her starvation-related illnesses too.

The lady in the picture is healthy–the baby was starving.

Besides all that, I’m even more skeptical as the source is the British equivalent of America’s National Enquirer–and we all know just how much they prize journalistic integrity there.

Oh, and for the record, not ONE of us that is posting on this thread has much of a life. I mean, come on, look how much time we’ve wasted here. Jeez.

yup…still idots…with too much time. like me, except i’m not an idiot. how’s that for maturity?

To TigerLilly:

Give it up. We’ve all read your other post here and YOU are one of the most racist ppl here on this board. You might as well change your name.

You have this hate for Angelina it makes you soooo transparent. You’d write a whole friggin’ essay just to make a point that no one cares about. I honestly feel pity for you to have so much hate inside of you for someone you have never even met.

Reading your posts and your poor attempts in sounding educated is almost comical.

Nana,
Uh…good one. (???)

The truth CAN be embarassing. You guys can throw anything you want to out here. Doesn’t change shit.

Another baby has been adopted and all you two…three, want to do is put Angelina Jolie, and other white people wanting to adopt, down for it. What is that??? (laughing)

“You’d write a whole friggin’ essay just to make a point that no one cares about.”

*LOL* I was thinking the same thing. I mean, I’ll post the occassional blurb here and there, but I’d have to start questioning the quality of my life a bit if I went on a whole f*cking rant on something this insignificant to people who probably will refuse to try to understand my point anyway.

to gimmeabreak: ALMOST comical? Ha! that lame ass “tigerlilly” (stupid name by the way) is rediculously comical…just like an idiot. “tigerlilly”, puh-lease! boo! hiss!

It’s been over 30 minutes since Tigerlily’s last post. Maybe she is writing a book on race relations for our benefit!!!

Reading some of these posts its almost comical how people view the adoption process. I am adopted (from the US) as are my two younger sisters. Adopting children isn’t just going to the store and making a purchase, it’s a long, tedious, emotional process for everyone involved. My parents had to wait two years for my little sister’s adoption to even be finalized. Plus, one of the hardest places to adopt healthy children is the US (trailing right behind Russia), regardless of race. When someone wants to adopt a child into their life, its about expanding their family, not shopping around for the best deal.

That is why I say ppl who claim Angelina is only do this “for show” need to stop talking from their asses.

You are right, it’s a long process to adopt (Angie probably started the paperwork BEFORE meeting Brad Pitt), and it’s a responsbility that could last a life time. Unfortunately, some ppl’s minds are so narrow, and shallow and negative that they’d think Angie is adopting for “attention”, and mingling her charity work with the love triangle (which I think is soooooo f*cking dumb).

Yes, Im sure Angelina has her own social life but I think the affair is beneath half of the other things in her life.

Jen Aniston fans and the rest of the scorned women who think it’s all about the affair should get a life.

Lisa,

I totally agree with you. My friend tried adopting in America. Her process took over two years…and the end result…she couldn’t adopt because she was single and considered too old…37 years is apparently too old to raise a child. My other friends, married, tried adopting as well…but the wait was about three years, and when they tried to adopt a child outside of their race…they were discouraged to do so.

So, for all those people (ahem…Tigerlilly) who start spitting out something they know way too little about…really look hard into the reasons why people adopt out of the country. In no way is Asia laxed…my friend finally adopted a little girl from China and it took a year, and tons of beaucratic red tape.

And yes, the people who actually write “essays” in these blogs have way too much time on their hands. Normally, I just read, I am a first time poster, but thought the issue was a strong one.

I can’t believe it’s taken so long to see someone else bring up the fact that Americans overlook many of our own that need adopting. After working at a state run home for innocents in my community, it really opened my eyes to how many African American infant and toddlers are in need of a good home, yet are looked over by potential adopting parents and foster parents due to their race. I also worked on an extended care psyche unit with older kids (5-12) many of whom were awaiting foster care. 90% of the kids who were lucky enough to find foster parents were the white children, most of the black children had to be placed into group homes upon discharge. Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to adopt a child at this time, but I do enjoy being involved in the Big brother/Big sister program, and believe me, the black children I have mentored, bring me as much joy as the white children. (by the way, I am caucasian). I guess perception of this situation is based upon where you’ve been and what you’ve seen.

By the way Tigerlilly, I like the comment you made about hair. One of the girls I became very close to was a 12 year old who had no family. She had to use the hospital bulk shampoo which was ruining her hair. Some of my co-workers and myself began to bring hair products in from the outside for this girl and some of her peers to use on their hair. The difference was amazing and you would have thought we had given them a pot of gold instead of a little pot of hair sheen. Reading your comment made me thing of her and brought a smile to my face. I loved braiding and curling her hair for her. Luckily, a lovely black woman chose to foster this girl, and as far as I know, she has stayed out of the system since.

It’s quite possible for the mom to look healthy and Zahara to have been starving. Ethiopian orphanages don’t have the regulations or healthcare we have here in the U.S. If she had been there any amount of time (isn’t she around six months?), should could have very easily become malnourished.

My point is that if the mother has $ to feed herself and be healthy, then she had the means to feed and take care of her daughter during the brief time she had her (breastfeeding and whatnot). I mean hell, the woman’s got extensions!!!

And I’ll say it once again, this is the SUN we’re talking about. They are NOT a reputable source of information. Legitimate news sources say both parents are dead.

OMG! I cannot believe what I am reading on this post. Who the F do you think you are putting someone down for adopting a baby of any color, from any place? How is it any of your buisness? MATUKO YOU ARE RACIST. You have a friggin chip on your shoulder about being black. Get over it, your slavery card played out over 300 years ago. Why should anyone adopt a child/baby here in the U.S.? Unfortunatly, and I speak from experience, most of the babies up for adoption are mentally handicapped, mentally ill, or drug addicted. Who wants to adopt that mess, not to sound harsh, but thats a fact jack. Get over yourself. She adopted an orphen, one w/ sominella and dehydration who would have died if not adopted. OH yes, Angelina, so evil.
bitch.
Oh and don’t bother spelling out typo’s to sound superior, you just sound like an ass!

Hey Tigerlilly,

My friend (who’s biracial–father black, mother white) was adopted by a white couple. Her birth father was a drug-addict/in and out of jail. Her birth mother couldn’t afford to keep her, and adopted her out.

My friend is a completely well-adjusted attorney who is married to a black man. Guess she shouldn’t have been adopted by a loving white family, huh?

Meant to add…is it better for a child is sit in the system for a family that is of the same race, or be adopted by a loving family who is not of the same race? Children need to be loved period.

TiggerLilly,

GOD BLESS YOU!!!……couldn’t have said it better….i disagree with u, however, when it comes to Angelina adoptin Zahara…way b4 angelina blew up, she was always in Africa doin some form of charity work….whether it’s a black baby or a white baby, adopting a child is a noble act/gesture..i honestly doubt angelina adopted Zahara to promote herself…i mean seriously, she is makin this child a part of her life…it’s not like a pair of shoes u get rid of after a year or two….and really, why/where a person adopts a child is NO ONE’s business but the person’s…if a white person would ONLy adopt a blonde blue-eyed baby, that’s FINE…u cant force someone to adopt a black baby JUST COS….and, back in the day, people would only adopt babies they thot resembled them in one way or the other so it wouldnt be obvious that they were adopted….

anyway, about ur theory on race relations….i COMPLETELY agree with u…and this has nothing to do with adoption…generally, white people would much rather befriend an asian b4 a black person…and if a white person was to befriend a black person, they would much rather befriend a light-skinned black person…shana,lisa, and all u other racists can either take it or leave it….it’s THE TRUTH.

I don’t believe that what Lisa or many of the other posters wrote was racist. There is nothing wrong with taking a child out of a undesirable home and giving them a nurturing and loving one. What does it matter about race? Why does every good deed have to be poisoned with racial overtones. Is it so hard to beleive that some people see beyond race and just do what is right?

“your slavery card played out over 300 years ago”

So, slavery was abolished in 1705? Most comments I see on this board are a result of the averse racism fostered by the privledged class of a society bred on institutional racism.

The truth of this debate is that adoption – from anywhere, of anyone, is a crucial issue.

The crux of this debate (and most debate-worthy) is whether Americans should focus ALL our energy on our own backyard, or care about the entire global community. I personally believe we are already arrogant, isolated, and unilateral enough.

Anyone who adopts should be congratulated. Sure, some may have alterior motives, and I admit, my first thought is usually along the lines of, “Oh look at how cool, hip, and liberal we are, we adopted a colored kid.”

It is quite hard to cross-racially adopt in America. This is a serious issue.

If you’re so curious as to if the black commenters adopted “their own,” first ask if they can afford to in a country that still prefers white high-school drop outs over black college graduates (FACT) for employment.

And it’s scary to think of the psychological damage that can be done by ignorant (not an insult, just the truth)white parents raising an yet another self-hating black child in a society that already does enough of that on its own.

Tiger Lilly’s hair comment is a simple, but perfect example. The deluded comments of white commenters serve as an exclamation point.

I cant believe what everyone is saying. Well I think what most of you guys are saying is true. Who would want to adopt here in the US, when all we see is troubled white kids making bombs, and killing other kids in schools. Man I would adopt from another country, any time!!!!!

sorry melissa and lisa, any one can make a mistake! oh i forgot not you, your sooooooooo perfect who cares you still understood what i was saying!!!! go get laid!!!!!!!!!

I think that this news blurb sparked one of the best debates that this site has ever seen. While I do not agree with some of the posters, I appreciate everyone’s viewpoint. Let us all agree that Zahara Jolie is much better off being adopted by Angelina. Without her Zahara would most likely die if left in her country.

It is true that MOST adopting couples would rather adopt a child that share their race, naturally. Another point is that, it is extremely difficult to adopt in the U.S., nevermind race. Yes there are TOO MANY children in this country that are unloved, abandoned, and abused. One child is too many. But until adoption requirements are amended in the United States, people will continue to seek children from foreign countries.

On a personal note, I have been blessed with three beautiful children, one of my own and two from a marriage. I thank God everyday for my good fortune, there is nothing more precious than a loving family.

Alright, that is all. I hate to have to get this serious about anything on this site, but I thought that this particular subject deserved a mention.

matuko: totally agree with you. Most of rest of u: just listen to yourselves. How is the world meant to learn & practice tolerance, when you are all so quick to trash another’s opinion? We will never all agree due to individual experiences, but abusing the crap out of someone who doesn’t support your stance says just sooo damn much about you.

I had to post my comment here.
Debates on racism are never pretty………. we have to realize that racism and stereotyping exists everywhere here on this world. People tend to stereotype others from a different race all the time- the fact is that it is in our genetics to associate ourselves in groups and if someone is not from our ‘group’ then we tend to speculate and attach some characteristics (aka stereotypes) to define that group of people from a different race. But the big problem arises when these stereotypes start getting VICIOUS, MEAN and HATEFUL. We, as people in the 21st century, need to separate the unoffensive from the offensive stereotyping and therefore make sure that offending others is out of the question. I’m Asian and some stereotypes about Asians are unoffensive even amusing and humorous to me, and I know that it is because of the ignorance of people about my race. Some of the posts here seem to be very negative and esp. Matuko for lashing out at Angellina Jolie for adopting Zahara. Shame on you!! She adopted Zahara for her own reasons and it is an individual decision at the end of the day. Therefore, Matuko you could have gone about explaining your complaint in a different and more positive way than dissing someone you don’t even know personally. I agree with you that African-American orphans should have equal opportunities to be placed in wonderful homes along with orphans from anywhere in the world but these are the decisions left to be made by the prospective adoptive parents regardless of their reasons.

For the rcord:

This woman was raped at a very young age (she is a mere 18 years old) and was forced to give up her daughter to an orphanage; she spent the rest of her time living with her mother/grandmother in modest conditions. She apparently holds no resentment towards Angelina because she is happy that her daughter will finally be able to have the good life that she deserves.

Brad’s now the father of the child of a brutal rapist. He’s getting the kid he deserves. It’s called karma.

Apparently the Russians wouldn’t let her adopt because of her horrible past – the cutting, heroin use, hiring a hit man to kill her, bisexuality, stay in insane asylums etc.

Angelina adopts from third world countries because no first world country would let her have a kid. But third world countries are so desperate for money they’ll let her buy them.

She’s unfit to be a parent. Those kids will end up so screwed up it’s not even funny. Look at the freaky life they lead even now. Always in the tabloids. Can you imagine any normal mother wanting her kids to play with Angelina’s kids? No way.

They’d be too worried Angelina would be having orgies in her bondage and S & M room, cutting in front of the kids, smoking heroin etc.

hey i live in australia i bought Who mag yesterday
little Zahara is on the cover lol she looks so cute
anyway i remember reading that Zarhara’s mother died giving birth to her, and she was adopted out by her grandmother as she was too poor to care for her. ? Now is her mother alive?
If she is, it might get tough if later on she decides she wants Zahara back.
It’s cute of Ange to adopt her. She will have a much better life, like Maddox.