Anti-Adopterism as Resistant Knowledge: An Autoethnographic Case Study of Colorblind Distortions in Transracial and International Adoption

Abstract

This autoethnography presents my adoption as an object lesson in the normalization of racism. I highlight the epistemological conflict between race consciousness and colorblindness–where in pursuit of being a “good daughter,” I rejected myself to accept my white adoptive family. Clinically, these experiences are diagnosed as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; however, I locate them as “internalized oppression” consistent with Black feminism. I find that racism is normalized through distorting displacement as placement and through centering my white adoptive family. I also observed “racism as bonding.” I posit, therefore, that adoptees’ anger might function as anti-racist resistance to colorblindness.

Keywords:

• anti-adopterism
• colorblindness
• racism
• white supremacy
• transracial adoption

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.