Parents prepare kids for life
- Share via
Re “Not black like me,” editorial, May 31
As the white (not to mention gay) adoptive father of a black 13-year-old daughter, I take exception with findings from “a comprehensive new study” suggesting that trans-racial adoption results in kids who struggle with self-esteem.
Among the questionable findings is the following thesis: “A key life skill for black children, according to the report, is coping with discrimination; parental guidance is crucial but does not always come naturally.”
If coping with discrimination does not come naturally to a parent -- whether black or white, gay or straight, blood-bound or not -- the parent in question should not take on the responsibility of raising a child.
As parents, it is our job to prepare our children for the inevitability of discrimination, whether the act is perpetrated because of race, class, sexual orientation or simply being different.
Michael Kearns
Los Angeles
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.