“Keep it real…” – Jonathan Funderburk
As simple as these three words may seem, keepin’ it 100% can have lasting effects on adoptees. Advocates of open adoption believe informing children about their adoption status as soon as possible is in the best interest of the child. However, Jonathan Funderburk shares that for him, ignorance may have been bliss.
Jonathan grew up in a Black family alongside his older sister, who was also adopted. His community and church home were anomalies, in that the Black Adoption Experience was not a secret or shameful. In fact, it was commonplace! This didn’t mean that the impact of his adoption was not ever present as he navigated identity issues and how to become a man.
We learn that checking ON you, is not the same as checking FOR you. While some adoptive parents may feel as if lavishing their child(ren) with material things serves as a replacement for the separation from one’s biological tie, it’s not enough. Getting to know your child’s likes, dislikes, hopes, and dreams will allow for you to nurture their nature. Providing guidance and tough love may really be the key to showing that you care.
Join us as we explore love, search and reunion, parenthood, and mental health. It’s not easy for a Black man to say “I needed therapy a long time ago.” By publicly sharing his story and listening to others, this artist and writer is committed to his healing and is unapologetically “doing my own journey.”
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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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