S1E12: “Even now I’m grieving the losses.” x Maya Holmes

“I’ve always thought of myself as an adoptee…that’s the main part of my identity.” – Maya Holmes

Maya’s birth mother was deliberate in ensuring that her adoptive parents were Black. She recognized that it was necessary for her child to see representation of herself within her family. As Maya matured and the time came time to really dig deep into what it meant to be adopted, there wasn’t a community that supported that need to explore the intersections of all aspects of her identity. It left her asking “Where is the community for Black adoptees?”

We feel you, Maya. We’ve been asking that same question!!!

While some adoptees may find themselves in loving homes and raised in what may seem like the best of circumstances, this still doesn’t minimize that longing of wanting to know where you came from. A search and reunion process doesn’t mean that you’ve somehow been healed and that the elapsed time spent away from your biological family is suddenly erased. While the stopwatch begins, one can’t help but to reflect on what’s been lost.

THIS is why Black adoptees require a space to share and support one another around our unique experiences. While Black Adoptees adopted by Black adopted parents (BABP) appear to be an anomaly, they really aren’t. And while our fellow Black adoptees who have been adopted transracially have a plethora of support groups to choose from, the BABP is left to go it alone.

NOT ON OUR WATCH!

Listen in to S1E12 available on your favorite podcast platform right now!

Reach out to us and share your ideas on how we can build our community as Black Adoptees adopted by Black Parents (BABP).

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

· Black Adoption Collective

· Black Adult Adoptee Alliance

· Black Adoption Matters

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