Due to recent interest in my research with White adults who grew up in transracial families, I am posting a reprint of an article that came out last summer in the journal Race, Ethnicity & Education. This article details the identities of two different White women who became sisters to siblings of color, either through adoption or foster care.
Readers who enjoyed learning about the experience of White non-adopted siblings in my article Real Brothers, Real Sisters will most likely appreciate the way these unique White women have transracialized their identities and lifestyles.
The article emphasizes the importance of their involvement in interracial social networks, primarily through their long-term friendships with people of color outside their families. Both women represent an approach to diversity that I think is beneficial among White individuals who choose to become involved with transracial adoption. These women say, in effect, “If race-mixing was good for me as a child, then race-mixing should continue to be good for me as an adult, even if society frowns upon it.” These inspiring women have figured out ways to break out of the boxes imposed by racialization. They have successfully integrated their lives and transracialized their White identities.
Written for an academic audience of teacher educators, the tone of the piece is more scholarly than some of my other writings. Even so, I think readers from outside the field of education may gain a useful perspective and serious food for thought. Click on the link below to download a pdf of the article authored jointly by Dr. John Raible and Dr. Jason Irizarry:
