[.ca] Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib (ISBN 0971330816)

elevated:
I wasn't sure when I first picked up the book if it would hold my interest, but it did quite a bit more than that.I can't imagine anyone not getting something out of this book, because it touches everyone if your heart is open and beating. I gained considerable insight on transracial adoption and the plight of the child growing up without really knowing their heritage. I would consider this book a "must read" by anyone. The author really keeps you captivated.

This is an extremely powerful and beautifully written book.:
As a child welfare professional and advocate, I believe that this book can serve as a wonderful learning tool for parents seeking to adopt children of different cultures/races. All Social Workers would also greatly benefit from reading it. As a transracial adoptee, this book truly validated many of my experiences growing up in a world that was socially and emotionally challenging, and often made very little sense to me. Dr. John can serve as a role model for many because he has worked tirelessly to search for, and grow from, the meaning behind his experiences. Through his storytelling, he also shares his life with us in a manner that honors all of his family members. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you, Jaiya, for sharing your soul...:
Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib by Dr. Jaiya John touched my soul. It is a journey into the world of a child who was a stranger surrounded by well meaning adoptive parents who were unable to reach the depth of his heart and soul. As you read his book, you move through the depth of a range of emotions and emerge with a hope that armed with sensitivity and knowledge, there is a future for the children caught up in the system. Prior to adopting my first child 25 years ago, I read a book about the account of an adoptee. That story enabled me to prepare myself for how my children might feel being adopted. Dr. John's book is the "Transracial Adoption Bible" sorely needed in this arena. As a transracial adoptive parent, adoption worker and trainer, "Black Baby" has become required reading for those families that I work with or train who desire to parent transracially. When I train prospective aodptive parents, all of them indicate that they want the best for their children. If we look at ourselves honestly, we realize we cannot be everything to our child. Jaiya's poignant life journey compels us to shed our color-blind ideas and recognize we live in a race conscious society that will see color and react according to preconceived notions. We cannot protect our children forever; we must give them the tools to survive in this society. For those who have or are considering adopting transracially, once you read "Black Baby", you will have walked in Jaiya's shoes and you cannot help but come away enlightened and armed with the knowledge you need to do right by the children you love so much. Thank you, Jaiya, for sharing your soul. We need you in this field "It takes a whole village to raise a child."

Courageous words spoken for our children.:
I am a single white mother of an adopted black daughter living in a small, predominately white, southern town. As Jaiya's life journey unfolded across the pages, I heard my daughter's voice speak to me from her crib. The words I heard were my fears that keep me awake at night. By sharing his life, Jaiya brings to light the responsibility that we (as adults who have chosen a transracial family) have to embrace, respect, love and consiously integrate the culture, origin of birth and race of our children. Thank you Jaiya for courageously speaking for our children. May their lives be blessed.

A tour de force!:
Here is an astounding literary achievement where poetry and music of the soul come to the written page. It's so remarkably rare to find a biography rich in colour, texture on a voyage of discovery. His use of metaphor unparalleled. I do hope we have more from the pen of Jaiya John.