NPR

Adoptees express their fear, anger and insight on race during social unrest

Transracial and transnational adoptees say it's been difficult to express their thoughts about race and social justice provoked by police killings, anti-Asian violence and immigration.
Sunny Reed, who was adopted from South Korea into a white American family, says sharing that she's adopted makes some people question whether she knows the actual Asian experience.

The killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans.

A surge in anti-Asian violence across the country amidst the pandemic.

The migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

These events ignited some of the deepest discussions on race and identity in the United States in decades. Yet, many of the millions of adoptees across the country say it's been difficult for them to express their feelings about social unrest.

Raised, in many cases, by parents of a different race and nationality, adoptees have unique perspectives on race and racism in America that aren't heard often.

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, NPR asked transracial and transnational adoptees to share their thoughts.

Here are some of their stories:

The interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Hannah Matthews

Hannah Matthews, 29, of Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, is a biracial Black woman who was born in Kansas City, Missouri and adopted domestically into a white family when she was three weeks old.

On the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans

"Over the last year, I've been thinking about other transracial adoptees who were probably experiencing what I experienced with the death of Michael Brown. Like, what does this mean for me and

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR13 min readCrime & Violence
Groups That Register Voters Are Feeling Besieged By New State Laws
New Republican-backed laws in several states add large fines or criminal penalties for minor mistakes in voter registration work. As groups pull back, they're reaching fewer voters.
NPR4 min readAmerican Government
White House Cites Executive Privilege Over Tapes Of Special Counsel's Biden Interview
House Republicans want to hold the attorney general in contempt over the department's refusal to hand over an audio recording of a special counsel's interview with the president.
NPR3 min read
Michael Cohen Continues Cross-examination In Trump's Criminal Hush Money Trial
Once an ally of the former president, now Cohen is in his third day of testifying against him. He alleges Trump knew about the deal with an adult film star to keep quiet about an alleged affair.

Related Books & Audiobooks