http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/10/26/atr-123-latino-in-america-halloween-chinese-adoptees-racist-kid/ Fri, 28 May 2010 12:18:48 -0700 hourly 1 http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/10/26/atr-123-latino-in-america-halloween-chinese-adoptees-racist-kid/comment-page-1/#comment-352595 Thomisa Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:27:31 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=252#comment-352595 The “Addicted to Race” segment of episode 123 about "homeland tours” really spoke to me. When listening to this segment, I was reminded of my sister, Anna. Anna was given up for adoption by her birth mother without my dad’s knowledge. I did not meet Anna until she was 21 years old when she contacted my dad. My family reluctantly entered into a relationship with Anna. This relationship became somewhat strained when my dad requested she take a DNA test to prove she was his daughter. The DNA test confirmed their relation and she has been an important part of my life ever since. I have often wondered what my life would have been like if Anna had not been adopted. I think it is hard not to imagine what could have been in these sorts of situations. Fortunately, Anna’s adoptive parents are wonderful people who provided her with an excellent childhood. This segment focused on the purpose of these visits. Were these “homeland tours” designed as a Public Relations stunt to create better images for these countries? Or, were these countries genuinely hoping to provide these women with valuable insight into their heritage? I have to admit I am not overly concerned with the purpose of these visits. I do feel these countries own these women an apology for essentially discarding them. Tami made an interesting point in stating these countries are welcoming these women to return because they are now equipped with Western resources that can benefit their countries. Regardless of the intent of these countries in creating “homeland tours,” I encourage these women to take advantage of these visits. As Judith N. Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama (2010) asserted in Intercultural Contexts in Communication, “Ethnic identity involves a shared source of origin and history… Having an ethnic identity means experiencing a sense of belonging to a particular group and knowing something about the shared experience of group members” (p. 185). In considering my own experience with adoption and this discussion of ethnic identities, I believe these “homeland tours” could provide these women with the opportunity to develop and nurture their ethnic identities. The “Addicted to Race” segment of episode 123 about “homeland tours” really spoke to me. When listening to this segment, I was reminded of my sister, Anna. Anna was given up for adoption by her birth mother without my dad’s knowledge. I did not meet Anna until she was 21 years old when she contacted my dad. My family reluctantly entered into a relationship with Anna. This relationship became somewhat strained when my dad requested she take a DNA test to prove she was his daughter. The DNA test confirmed their relation and she has been an important part of my life ever since.
I have often wondered what my life would have been like if Anna had not been adopted. I think it is hard not to imagine what could have been in these sorts of situations. Fortunately, Anna’s adoptive parents are wonderful people who provided her with an excellent childhood.
This segment focused on the purpose of these visits. Were these “homeland tours” designed as a Public Relations stunt to create better images for these countries? Or, were these countries genuinely hoping to provide these women with valuable insight into their heritage?
I have to admit I am not overly concerned with the purpose of these visits. I do feel these countries own these women an apology for essentially discarding them. Tami made an interesting point in stating these countries are welcoming these women to return because they are now equipped with Western resources that can benefit their countries.
Regardless of the intent of these countries in creating “homeland tours,” I encourage these women to take advantage of these visits. As Judith N. Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama (2010) asserted in Intercultural Contexts in Communication, “Ethnic identity involves a shared source of origin and history… Having an ethnic identity means experiencing a sense of belonging to a particular group and knowing something about the shared experience of group members” (p. 185). In considering my own experience with adoption and this discussion of ethnic identities, I believe these “homeland tours” could provide these women with the opportunity to develop and nurture their ethnic identities.

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