lmost all adoptive parents is the basic desire to have a child, regardless of race.4 With this fact taken into account, why would a couple want to adopt a child of a different race? Motivations to adopt transracially can be connected to some of the events of the sixties and early seventies.5 Some of those issues include the shortage of healthy white infants and the raised consciousness concerning homeless black children. Sometimes an adoption agency will suggest interracial adoption rather than the couple initiating that thought or action.6 Usually, however, couples come into the adoption agency with the intent of proceeding with an interracial adoption. Many opponents of transracial adoption raise questions about the ability of white parents to give their black child an identity with their heritage. "The idea that a while family cannot give a black child the proper psychological preparedness for a racist society [is one I] disagree with."7 "When a child needs a hug, it doesn't matter what color the mother's arms are. Color doesn't make you the parent. Love does."8 Therefore, the desire to love a child who needs a family is motivation enough.
             These children who are adopted by loving families have been found to possess certain strengths,9 contrary to popular opinion. "Adopted kids are every bit as well-adjusted, socially skilled, and intellectually able as their non-adopted peers."10 Self-image is a critical part of growing up. Children gain a good knowledge of their identity because they cannot pretend to be like everybody else if they are part of a racially mixed family. Critics of interracial adoptions use this issue to support their point, when in fact, it is an issue that strengthens the argument favoring interracial adoption.11
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