Adoption in general may be unfamiliar to many. It can be very insensitive to the people it is trying to serve: the children. The process should entail finding the best family for the child who needs one, as opposed to finding the best child for the family who wants one. When the factor of an adoption that crosses racial boundaries is added to the equation, strong opinions may surface. One may begin by asking the basic question: "What is race?" According to Carleton Coon, author of The Origin of Races, "Race is a zoological concept meaning a division of a species. A species is a collection of animals that will breed together when they get a chance..."1 Furthermore, "...race is a relative and comparative term designating, for example, 'white people' versus 'black people.' There is no harm in referring to them as such as long as one realizes that each group is not homogenous but is itself variable and overlapping with some members of contrasting groups."2 The very word "race" becomes difficult to define, since there is no pure strain of white people and black people. For all practical purposes here, it is easiest to use the common definition, which is gauging what race one belongs to based on distinguishing outward characteristics. Outward appearances obviously are very diverse. The diversity of the couples who adopt transracially is great; there is obviously no one "type."3 The same goes for the motives that urge couples to proceed with an interracial adoption. Why would a couple consider this alternative? How have laws accommodated couples who would like to transracially adopt? What issues should these couples weigh into their decision? Of the many questions that could be posed concerning this topic, these are a few that present a broad overview of interracial adoption.
             Why would a couple consider interracial adoption? The common motivation among a...