Posted on 03/12/2002 1:26:04 PM PST by antaresequity
The practice, which is widespread among private adoption facilitators, of charging prospective parents different fees depending on the race or ethnicity of the child they adopt is one that Hutcherson is fighting to change from his Redmond, Wash., church. The Antioch Bible Church has established its own adoption agency, and is lobbying state legislators to change Washington's laws.
"I've got championship Rottweilers. I sell them by supply and demand," Hutcherson said. "I raise thoroughbred racehorses. I sell them by supply and demand. I'm not going to let people sell children by supply and demand. What's the difference between that and slavery?"
The campaign to change the law is directed at Washington state legislators, but Hutcherson said he would prefer to see the federal government step in and create one set of regulations governing adoption, rather than leaving the issue to the states to decide.
Current Washington law bans payments to a birth mother for placing a child for adoption, but does not address payments for arranging an adoption or the fees that may be charged.
"I think it's an issue that Americans have not looked at closely enough, because if they had, things wouldn't be the way they are," he said.
He hopes to get attention around Washington with a billboard campaign as soon as he can raise the $70,000 to $80,000 he needs. The billboards will feature a white baby, a latino baby and a black baby and next to each, the fees some adoption facilitators might charge for them: $35,000, $10,000 and $4,000.
He said that besides putting a price on children, the practice discriminates against white babies and people who seek to adopt them an issue he said has been overlooked because white people, particularly those who can afford the high adoption fees charged, are not used to considering themselves victims of discrimination.
"I know about discrimination," said Hutcherson, who is black. "I don't care who it's against, it's wrong. Tell me that if it was black babies that cost $50,000 and white babies that cost $4,000, people would be screaming their heads off."
I'm not sure if we call it social services. We're working through our county who gets kids through CPS (Child Protective Services). I believe most of the kids in the system from CPS come from neglected or drug abused homes. The kids are referred to as "special needs" kids, but in the right environment, the kids slowly drop any baggage from their past.
Our county has an abundance of kids right now, some newborn. But they are so backed up in paperwork they can't place the kids with anyone like yourself. Which can be frustrating for both parties as the county has to go by the book and the parents just want kids as soon as possible.
The real danger to the race baiters would come when there was a statistically significant number of black children raised in "white" households. If the numbers show that these children were statistically more likely to succeed, then it would throw the whole race excuse out the window.
It would show, as I've said, "It's the culture, not the color". Instilling "responsibility and success oriented" instead of "excuse oriented" values in a child works almost every time.
“In fact, the whole idea of private adoption facilitators is new to me... “
It’s about the only way adoptions have been done for over 100 years.
This is why I get pissed at people who think adopting a foreign baby is so righteous when there are American babies that need adopting. The problem is these holier-than-thou foreign baby adopters won’t consider a black American baby.
White babies are adopted before anyone even knows they need adopting. Black babies are often never adopted, yet, people adopt a black foreign baby before they adopt black American babies.
“In private adoption you aren’t “paying for the baby” “
“black child, costs will be $3500-7500 depending and you can have a child in 2-6 months. If you insist on a healthy white child, costs are upwards of $10-20k “
So, why are black babies $3500-7500 but whites ones are $10-20k?? You contradict yourself that you are not paying for the baby. You are paying for the baby, regardless of the receipt’s line item description.
The wife worked county social services. I know for a fact that white babies are auctioned and the bidding starts at $10,000 nationally.
Again, the receipt might not say, “Auction Price: $24,000” but the entire process does: “Gee, the mother needs a new car, and rent for 6 months, and...”
“It seems to have gotten exponentially more difficult to adopt.”
Not really. Adopting can be a quick process that doesn’t cost anything past court fees. If you want a black American baby, you can get one today and legally complete the adoption process within 90 days.
If you want a white American baby, it can take years to find one and many months of negotiation, I mean regulatory compliance, to legally complete the adoption.
“When there are mixed families, there is less racism in the surrounding community... “
That’s BS. I rarely see racism in the first place such that to claim there is less is nonsense.
When I see racism it is coming from blacks and Hispanics.
Oh no, you pay a very pretty penny when you adopt. You think those private adoption services are not businesses, you would be very very wrong.
However, if this man wants to get upset, he should go take the course you have to take if you are a white couple looking to adopt a black child... you are told by the state no less, that you have to tell these kids they will be discriminated against their entire lives, earn less money, do worse in school etc...
You can’t tell them, your potential is determined by your own effort... oh no....
Stop replacing DAD with a check from the government....
The modern welfare state ENCOURAGES single motherhood, over in tact families
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.