I got to thinking about this issue a few days ago after reading a status message on a friend’s Facebook page that read, “I'm not sure how I feel about this whole "I'm so rich I'm going to adopt a poor African child" thing.” Today another friend’s read, “Madonna: please leave the African orphans alone..you worthless attention seeker, u are doing the world no good with your publicity stunts..clean up ur marital mess before bringing innocent african kids into ur home...”
Some people, at least a few of my friends, have a basic knee-jerk repulsive reaction, or as some ethicists have described, “yuck factor ” response to the news of Madonna wanting to adopt yet another poor African orphan. With the media flurry fanning flames of controversy, we itch for glimpses into the many unanswered and unanswerable questions. What is Madonna true motive? Is she simply yearning for some attention? Does she really care? The list of questions is unending. However, the bottom line is that we find it difficult to shake the thoughts of imbalance of power, class, socioeconomic and racial categories that the scenario evokes. Madonna, a rich white western celebrity wants to adopt a poor black African orphan.
The yuckiness expressed by my two friends, both of African decent, is most certainly not universal. I suspect the initial reaction people have to this scenario is dictated by what side of this divide they most relate with. I think exploring the reasons for our initial responses in greater depth and considering empirical information may lead to reconsidering our previously held positions.
Here are some simple basic facts. There are millions of orphan in Africa today, many of whom have lost both parents. The traditional systems of families and communities taking on the responsibility for orphans have in recent times been threatened by the HIV/AIDS. Millions of children are left alone to care for themselves and siblings, and some are privileged to be housed in orphanages. Orphanages are usually under-resourced, understaffed and teeming with children. I need not continue spouting statistics and cliches; but my point is that the reality for so many children is life in despicable situations. Some would say, "But can such children not have some level of happiness and satisfaction in their lives?" They absolutely can; the human spirit has a way of making do with whatever life/fate brings.
However, I have a very difficult time justifying depriving such a child of a chance of having a better life. I think having the luxury of stable meals, attention of care givers, and education, to say the least, qualifies as a 'better life.' Adoption is the least terrible of the few options available to these children. Irrespective of the dodgy motives of Madonna or any other adopting parent, I think the best interest of the child should be the ultimate trump card.
I am certainly not advocating for the removal of kids from poor families simply because they would have a better life in a richer one. The calculation is, however, a whole lot simpler when you talk of orphans with virtually no other options.
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I have to agree with you on the whole better life equation part of it.
ReplyDeleteAs an African, yes I am repulsed by the whole celebrity adoption thing due to motives and the never-ending cycle of dependency on the West that it further perpetuates. But I have to swallow that and accept that for these kids who get adopted, they will have an even better quality of life than most of us ordinary citizens so to speak so who am I to begrudge them that especially after the suffering they have already encountered in their young lives?
Besides, it's so easy for us ordinary citizens to criticize. Granted a lot of us have our own issues i.e. financial, emotional, whatever it may be but the bottom line is it usually pales in comparison to what these orphans have suffered.
It's sickening to me because there are so many needy people here in the US
ReplyDeleteMissb- You are very right. There are needy people in the US as well. You may want to make the argument that people should start by aiding the kids in their local environs before venturing to the international scene. I think that would be a pragmatic argument. It however, does not address the repulsiveness and repugnance people have towards adopting from Africa.
ReplyDeleteKG, i think this post somewhat relates to what pyoo wata and obla yoo discussed on slum dog millionaire and all its controversies. Madonna's motives are questionable no doubt but as you said, KG, it is the welfare of the child that is most important here. The infrastructures in Africa are failing this child and we should not let our sentiments preclude a child's fate in life. In my opinion, we Africans need to clean up our mess before we start complaining about other people's messes.
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