Adoption, Race, and Group-Based Harm

I wish to discuss Dorothy Roberts’ powerful and original contribution to the debates about race, adoption, and child welfare from three different perspectives. First, as a philosopher I agree with many things Roberts says about the nature of race and social justice. Second, as an adoptive parent I challenge some of Roberts’ views about adoption, especially transracial adoption. Third, as a student of the law, I agree with the spirit but disagree with the letter of Roberts’ legal proposals.

While we agree more than we disagree, I will emphasize the points of disagreement in order to better stimulate our collective rethinking of her controversial views and proposals.