The Black Adoption Experience an Anthology

By Leola Wilkerson-Williams M.S.W.

The Black Adoption Experience is book with true stories on adoptions. The Contributing Authors have shared real stories from the heart on their experience in adopting a child or children. Also, some adoptees, who are now adults, have shared what it has meant to be adopted. It is hope that this book will enlighten you on the subject of adoptions and provide insight into the process of adoption and the rewards. Hopefully you will find the reading of this book to be a wonderful, educational experience. For adoption is a great way to add to your family!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665524605

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Copyright © 2021 Leola Wilkerson-Williams, M.S.W. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  04/30/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2461-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2460-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021908797

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover image by Fratina Emanuel

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Special Thanks

Introduction

By Leola Wilkerson-Williams

Share the Love

By Arlie Victory, B.A.

God Had Me in Mind

By Ashley Victory

This is Me

By Evangelist Brenda Mitchell

My Journey: Fatherless Child to a Fabulous Father

By Byron Williams B.A.

The Son We Longed For

By Debra Gordon

God’s Gift to Me

By Fratina Emanuel, M.ED

Baby Girl

By James Pierce, B.S. and Pamela Pierce, M.Ed

The Fat One on the Right

By Kevin Monroe, B.S.

Our Precious Child

By Kimberly and Jessica Peeples

God Bless the Child

by Maude Lofton, MD

You’re My Ma

By Patrick Fields

My Dream that Came True

By Paulette Fields

Smiles of Joy

By Rebecca Jerido, M.B.A.

Our Adoption Story

By Samantha Adams

Acts of Love

By Loren McLendon, M.D.

Our Two Precious Children

By Sharon McLendon, B.A.

DEDICATION

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE FOLLOWING:

My Heavenly Father who made this book possible

My four sons, two daughter-in-laws and four grandchildren

In memory of my parents, Pastor David and Albertha Wilkerson

My eight siblings and in memory of Zelena Crawford and Leon Wilkerson. In memory of my niece, Monterita Rainey

In Memory of Carolyn Monroe and other Adopive Parents who have transitioned to their eternal home

In memory of friends, Mrs. Brenda Turner & Dr. Shatrece Buchanan

SPECIAL THANKS

To the Contributing Authors who believed in the vision, shared their true experiences to help this book come to fruition

To my son, Langston J. Williams, for Technical and Editing Assistance

To my husband, Lafayette H. Williams, Sr. for his patience with me in completing this project.

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INTRODUCTION

By Leola Wilkerson-Williams

I am a retired Social Worker, who worked in the field for thirty plus years. During my career, I worked with clients of all ages. In 1985, I was hired by a local adoption agency as their Black Adoption Advocacy Worker. My position entailed recruiting persons to adopt Black and Bi-racial children for placement into adoptive homes. At the time of accepting this position, I was a novice as it relates to the process of Adoption. Yet, my oldest son, Byron, was adopted by my husband.

Adoption in the Black Community was once a way of life for some families, but it was not termed Adoption. Many grandparents raised the daughter and son’s babies to help them make a better life for themselves. It may have been that their child had a baby at young age, needed to complete high school or college or just could not afford to raise a child at the time. Also, they may not have been responsible enough to rear a baby. Oftentimes, that baby remained with the grandparents until they were grown. For some, this was a way to help rear this baby so that they would not end up in Foster Care or in the custody of the state. Many grandparents are to be applauded for the part they played in rearing their grandchildren.

At the adoption agency, I had to learn the process of completing a home study, with the single parent or couple who desired to adopt. Once approved, the staff had to select the select the couple or single parent that would be most suitable to parent that child. My Co-worker at the time, Mrs. McClain, and I did a lot of praying during that time for the Lord to help us make the right decision regarding placement of the child with the appropriate parent(s).

I can truthfully say that Adoption brought lots of joy to the parties involved. The birthmother showed unselfish love in placing her baby for adoption, for whatever her reasons. The adoptive parents were blessed as they were providing a loving home for a child, to care for and provide for their needs; physically, mentally, emotionally, educationally and spiritually. The child is blessed in that they have a single parent or couple to love and care for them and who has been met the qualifications to adopt.

The vision for this book has been with me since the 90’s. It is said that if the Lord gives you a vision, He will make a provision. So, or all those years, I have dreamed of bringing this book to fruition. This book is to highlight the highs and lows of adopting a child. Its purpose is to share the process of adoption to those who may be contemplating adoption, and may be reluctant to start thinking that it is too difficult. The Contributing Authors have given their accounts of what it has meant to adopt a child. They have shared from their heart and some have shared their innermost feelings. The child who was adopted, (now young adults), also shared how it feels to be adopted and how adoption has changed their lives. Also, some adoptees have searched for their birthmother and connected with them. I am sure