Buying and Selling [ White Babies $35,000...Black Babies Only $4,000 ]

ABC News Website ^ | 3-12-02 | Dean Schabner

[antaresequity]

 

 When a couple seeking to adopt a white baby is charged $35,000 and a couple seeking a black baby is charged $4,000, the image that comes to the Rev. Ken Hutcherson's mind is of a practice that was outlawed in America nearly 150 years ago — the buying and selling of human beings

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."

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[HamiltonJay]

There already are laws regarding private adoption, as damned well their should be.. to imply otherwise is ludicrous.

[gunshy]

Put them up for auction on EBAY.

[Snuffington]

I don't understand where the fees come from. I thought adoption fees were a simple matter covering the expense of the adoption process. But that wouldn't explain the disparity of fees by race. And it is illegal to sell babies, so I doubt such a practice has gone unnoticed.

Can anyone explain this pricing structure?

[LWalk18]

There are not enough parents who want them- that is why you see so many black children in foster care, even babies. Most white couples would rather adopt internationally than bring a American black child home...not because of racism, per se, but because they want children who look like them, or as close as possible.

Of course it is better to not be aborted, but let's not pretend that there are willing parents for each child that would be saved if abortion were criminalized.

[gwynapnudd]

"I've got championship Rottweilers. I sell them by supply and demand," Hutcherson said. "I raise thoroughbred racehorses.

Man, the preaching business at the Antioch Church must be pretty lucrative.

Somebody get the Reverend another tall mint julip and be quick about it!

[Snuffington]

If you are willing to adopt a healthy 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 or more and can take several years if you even get one.

Thanks for the info.

Am I understanding that the increase of price is due to an increase in the duration of the process? Or is there some other factor?

[anniegetyourgun]

Paying mother for her medical and all kinds of other costs (paying her to sell her child), lawyer fees, agency fees, and cost of family assessment (read: government investigators) are just some of the costs involved.

[anniegetyourgun]

Nah, he's a former pro football player and a smart investor.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I'm with you, Pern!

[dead]

If they can't give them away, how can they get $4,000 for them?

[Lizavetta]

Family's pay 10s of thousands of dollars to go overseas just to make sure they adopt a child and it cannot be taken away.... Baby Jessica probably did more to hurt domestic adoption than anything I can think of. That judge should have been tarred and feathered.

You are so right. A friend of mine knows someone who adopted overseas and quoted her as saying "Every day I'm thankful that there's two governments and an ocean between my baby and his biological mother."

[TN Republican]

No problem there, just put an 875% tariff on black babies.

[theoutsideman]

you are a jackass!

[LWalk18]

There are some black couples who adopt, remember? There is a small demand, but a much higher supply, that the point. It costs money to adopt even for older black children, but lets not pretend that there is some high demand for them.

[antaresequity]

The price is not some racist plot against whites, but simply reflects the facts that there is a high demand for white babies and very low demand for black or biracial babies.

I think it has to do with supply. I think that White people keep more of their own babies...

[Khurkris]

IMHO..white people have always been over-priced.

[LWalk18]

I don't think that more whites keep their babies so much as blacks have more crisis pregnancies- young, unwed unwanted. That is why blacks have disproportately more abortions and children in foster care.

[antaresequity]

If they can't give them away, how can they get $4,000 for them?

Kinda sounds like the S P 500 at 62:1 PE...LOL

It's Gubmint Math.

[TomServo]

How much for an 18 year old Swedish chick?

If you have to ask...