The Second Middle Passage

I think that this may just be me being melodramatic, but I am extremely disturbed by the rise of celebrity adoptions, particularly adoption of African children. I foresee an entire generation of African children being unwillingly snatched from their homes and cultures, to be taken to America and surrounded by European culture.To me, this is reminiscent of the Middle Passage. One big difference is that the conditions of the Middle Passage were horrendous and the ultimate purpose was profit. In this modern day Middle Passage, however, the purpose is to alleviate and assuage white guilt over the theft and destruction of Africa.
I will use Madonna as an example. It is undeniable that she has used her fame and money to completely cower the Malawian government to let her adopt a child. Many argue that the child's parents have abandoned her, but that is just what the media says. People do not keep in mind that in many cases, the parents take their children to orphanages because they can no longer care for their children, and sending them to an orphanage is preferable to starvation. Maybe we should have a bit more compassion for parents who find themselves in an unenviable situation such as this. For those who assume the position that Madonna is doing a charitable thing by adopting this child, they are right. Her adoption is symbolic and symptomatic of all the things wrong with charity, particularly western charity. Instead of seeking to create sustainability, we seek to uphold our ego by "helping" destitute people. If we really cared about "abandoned" African children, why don't we strive to create conditions in which the children will not be abandoned in the first place?
Not only that, but I have never seen a celebrity receive extreme press coverage for adopting a white child. I can think of a few celebrities who have clandestinely adopted white children, but you will never hear about that. Some argue that the reason celebrities adopt children of color is because they feel like no one else will want them. I find it strange, however, that oftentimes, these children come from countries with lax adoption laws, making it easier, to adopt an African or Asian child, rather than a European child. And of course, we cannot forget the role ego plays into it. How can one criticize you for saving a child's life, allegedly? You look kind, forgiving, people become so distracted by all your adoptions and charity work they condone your less favorable actions. Adopting a child is the ultimate public relations move.
Also, I find it interesting that none of these celebrities adopt older children, and when I mean older children, I'm being very generous here. Most, if not all, the children adopted are infants. May this be because older children remember their families and their culture? Because of this, older children are more difficult to mold into the image of their parents. Thus, celebrities often adopt infants. Infants really have no memory of their families or their cultures, and therefore, the process of assimilating African children into a white world is facilitated. Does one really think that an African child can really understand their identity in a white family? I recall someone saying that Angelina Jolie has tutors that teach her children about their respective cultures. I find this quite farcical. I do not think one can teach a child a culture. One has to live in that culture, be immersed in it, absorb it. Culture has to be lived. It cannot be encapsulated in a book and regurgitated through a teacher.
Unfortunately, I believe that if this continues, we may have a generation of children that are a lot like many of my former classmates who deny their links to Africa and see the Continent as nothing but a barren wasteland. Perhaps I am being too pessimistic, but I feel like I am a witness to the demise of a race, a witness to cultural genocide. This is reminiscent of the kidnapping of Native American children by the Canadian and American governments. Their culture was stolen and considered inferior, and maybe many of these white people have good intentions, I'm sure they do, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
But alas, adoption may be the only alternative to a life of poverty, or so we say. We would rather leave the job of rebuilding to the wealthy, and it is just more convenient to let them adopt our children rather than raise them ourselves.Why not use the money that would be spent on nannies, tutors, and cooks for the child to sponsor that child and members of the family that would want to raise the child? That way the child would be taken care of, maybe not living an opulent lifestyle, but would be provided for, yet not ripped apart from his/her culture and family.Or the next best thing would be for more black families to adopt black children. I understand that many families are under financial strain, so the responsibility could be born by those with the financial means to take care of others. I would love the day when Beyonce or Oprah (I dislike them both, but better them than Madonna) adopt a black child. Until then, we will have the Madonnas and the Jolies gallivanting across the world, picking their choice of cute, "exotic" children to raise.