Adoptee Survey | Transracial Adoption Study

Adoptee Survey

As you take this survey, there are no right or wrong answers. We are only interested in your experiences and how you feel about these issues. If a question does not apply to you, simply skip it and go on to the next question. Or if you do not feel like answering a question, simply skip it.

Purpose

We are interested in individuals such as you—Black or African American individuals who were adopted transracially--by white parents. This includes individuals who are biracial or multiracial. In the survey we ask several questions about your experience while growing up. This will include:

your experience with discrimination and racism.
what your parents did to teach you about race in American society and the history of African Americans
the experiences that may have been important in the development of your identity as a person of color.

Confidentiality

All identifying information will be stripped from the information you give us. Only group data will be presented in any reports. Any quotes will not be attributed to you, only to pseudonyms (substituted names). Transcripts and questionnaires will be kept in a password-protected database and/or a locked file drawer to which only the researchers have access.

NOTE: Adoptees participating in the survey must be 18 years of age or older. By choosing to continue you certify that you are 18 years of age or older.

Introduction

In a few sentences tell us a little about yourself. Who are you and what are the most important things we should know about you?

Introduction:

How do you identify yourself racially or ethnically? :

If you answered "other" for racial identity, please explain:

At about what age did you realize that you were a different race than your parents?:

Did a particular incident cause you to realize that your race was different than your parents or others around you?:

Are there members of your extended family who you feel are racist? If yes, why do you believe that they are?:

Have you seen any racist feelings of family members change in your lifetime?:

Social

How many of your close friends are black or African American?:

How many of your close friends are white?:

How many of your close friends are of some other race or ethnic group—other than white or African American?:

Of the people who visited your home in the last month for social reasons, about how many were black?:

Of the people who visited your home in the last month for social reasons, about how many were white?:

Treatment

If you have been mistreated because of your race, would you give us some specific examples? :

If you have been mistreated because of race, what did you do, or how did you react?:

Have you ever been in a situation where other African Americans called you an "Oreo," or accused you of "acting white" or something similar?

What did they say?:

What was your reaction to these comments? How did it make you feel and what did you do as a result?:

On the same topic of being accused of "acting white," if it happened, did you change as a result of it—and how?:

Mentor

Some adoptees we have interviewed have told us that they have close friends or mentors (such as their parents, a religious leader, a teacher, a coach, or older brother or sister) to whom they can go to when they encounter problems with racism.

Do you have a mentor you can go to? If so, who?:

Personal Responses

Some individuals whom we have interviewed have reported a variety of emotions that resulted from their experiences growing up in a white-dominated culture. Did you experience the following emotions while growing up?

Were you ever discouraged, distraught, or deeply saddened as a result of your treatment because of your race? :

Yes

No

Did you get angry as a result of your treatment? :

Yes

No

Did you cry or feel liking crying as a result of your treatment? :

Yes

No

Did you stew over mean or racist things that people have done or said to you? :

Yes

No

Do you have any more thoughts on this subject (personal responses) that you would like to share?:

School Experiences

In general, what kind of courses did you take in school (advanced courses, regular courses, resource courses)? :

If honors or advanced placement courses were available in your high school, did you feel you had access to them?:

Did you feel that you were singled our for punishment in school (for example, sent to the principal’s office) because of your race?

Please explain:

Some students report that teachers or other school staff members sometimes tell black students that they would do well to go into the military or to do construction or manual jobs. Sometimes teachers and others will suggest to black students they might not be college material.

Did others discourage you in this way in your post-high school plans? Please explain:

Perceptions

We are interested in the perceptions that whites in your area have about African Americans, biracial or multiracial people.

In high school were you expected to be able to dance, perform music, or play a sport because of your race?:

While growing up, did you ever wish your skin color was lighter—or darker? Did a particular incident make you feel this way?:

Was there pressure in your school not to date cross-racially or was it "cool" for others to date someone like you? :

Sometimes white people in some parts of the country will not touch a black person's skin (for example when they return change).

Did you ever feel that whites were hesitant to touch your skin?:

While you were growing up, did white people outside of your family want to touch your hair? :

As you got older, did white people or others ask questions beginning with: "Do blacks do . . . "? If so, please explain:

Culture and History

How often was black history discussed in your school while you were growing up? :

How did you feel when issues of race or slavery were discussed in your classes? Did you feel proud? Did you feel that you had to be the spokesperson for all black persons? Were you uncomfortable? Did you feel like you were being singled out?

Please describe your reactions when slavery or racial issues were taught in school:

How much exposure did you have to African American history while you were growing up?:

What was your main source of exposure to black history?:

While growing up what aspects of the African American culture did you learn about?

When did you learn about or have exposure to music such as blues, jazz, hip-hop, and other predominantly black music styles?:

Did you know about or adopt a "black" style of clothing?:

What hair style did you wear most of the time while growing up? :

Religion

What religious tradition or group (if any) were you raised in?:

If other religion, please list:

How often did your family attend religious services?:

How involved are you now and with which group? :

Background Questions

Where were you born and where did you grow up for most of your life? :

In what year were you born?:

How old were you when you were adopted? :

While growing up, with whom did you spend the majority of your time?:

How many years of schooling did your adoptive mother complete?:

How many years of schooling did your adoptive father complete?:

How many years of schooling have you completed so far?:

If you are currently married or have been married or are living (or have lived) with a partner or significant other:

What is/was the race or ethnicity of your spouse/significant other? :

Are you:

Male

Female

Given your experiences as an adopted child, what would you recommend to white parents and others about transracial adoptions?: