Madonna adopts baby from Malawi?
by guest contributor Nina
(Note from CVK: as of now we’re getting conflicted reports over whether or not this adoption has gone through. Madonna’s publicist has denied it, but Malawi government officials have said it’s true.)
In the latest celebrity news, Madonna has adopted or plans to adopt an orphan from Malawi. Apparently she wants a boy and had about a dozen to choose from. So now it is just a short time before we see the little one in the most stylish baby clothes, being carted around the streets of London and L.A. in the Material Girl’s arms. The new mother,with a smug “aren’t-I-an-amazing-person-
because-I-adopted-this-child-that-would-have-died-without-my-help” look on her face.
I know that we are supposed to be in awe of celebrities adopting African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, but I cannot shake the feeling that it is just a trendy act and reeks of noblesse oblige and reputation rehab! Maybe Madonna will get a shout out on BET’s 106th & Park. A decade ago Hollywood was adopting African American kids (Mia Farrow, Tom Cruise, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Spielberg), and now the cause celebre is Africa itself and as the caustic mass media puts it “AIDS babies.”
Some would argue that without these individuals, the orphans would die. Well according to a 2003 UNICEF report, “AIDS has already orphaned more than 11 million African children, half of whom are between the ages of 10 and 14.” So unless Angelina, Madonna and the rest plan on adopting a few hundred kids each then they aren’t really putting a dent in the situation. The old adage, give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day seems to apply here. Less than 5 % of Africans affected with HIV/AIDS have access to medication that costs a mere $7-8 a day. A couple of million dollars for antiretrovirals that keep these kids’ parents alive would be far more beneficial in the long run than adopting one child. Instead Madonna hopes to spend $3 million on a kabbalah-influenced orphanage to indoctrinate Malawian children in her religion of the moment.
Furthermore, the issue of these children’s racial/cultural identity is worth discussion. Malawi has a ban on non-resident adoptions of Malawian children. A ban that was in place, presumably, to maintain the culture of their children. But the ban was lifted for Madonna. This site has devoted considerable time to issues of racial identity, particularly for transracially adopted children. When Oprah asked Tom Cruise, “how do you discuss race with your son?” (who is African-American). Cruise looked at Oprah like she asked him to describe bestiality. “He’s my son, Oprah. He’s my son” he said indignantly, to the applause of a mostly white audience.
Race is a thorny topic but it needs to be talked about especially if you adopt from outside your own. I just don’t think that white, wealthy celebrities can really deal with it. Hell, even celebrities of color live in a rarefied world. I once saw an interview with Natalie Cole where she said she didn’t realize she was black until she got to college. And she grew up during segregation! I cannot wait to hear from Zahara, Maddox and all the rest in the years to come.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
gatamala wrote:
Black crack babies & Chinese girls are so passe!
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 2:41 pm ¶
Carla wrote:
Isn’t Tom’s son biracial?
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 5:22 pm ¶
CW wrote:
I appreciate the thoughts in this post, but I found some contradiction in your remarks.
Though you condemn celebrity adoption as an act of “noblesse oblige,” you write, “So unless Angelina, Madonna and the rest plan on adopting a few hundred kids each then they aren’t really putting a dent in the situation.”
So if they were adopting a few hundred kids, the adoptions would be okay?
None of the adoptive parents I know adopted in order to “put a dent” into a situation — they adopted in order to become parents and create a family.
Posted 06 Oct 2006 at 1:36 am ¶
Meg wrote:
the thing i find most annoying with adopting Africa as the new hip cause for celebrities is that if they donated their pay for 5 years (cos none of them actually need more money) and donated to an aid organisation which legitimately knew what it was doing and where the resources were most needed, they have the power to effect massive change. Even donate pay for 1 year, 1 movie, 1 tour whatever.
Which has nothing to do with race issues but there it is.
Posted 06 Oct 2006 at 3:27 am ¶
Kim wrote:
Yes, Tom’s son Connor is biracial.
Posted 12 Oct 2006 at 11:32 am ¶
S wrote:
It could be a coincidence that these kids are being adopted by celebs “all of a sudden”. I know it sounds crazy. I happen to be one of those people who have ALWAYS planned to “rescue one of those African” children once I reached a certain financial status to care for one. Maybe they all thought it was a good time to make the move (in the same time span). I do, however, realize how phony it looks (the celebs). I am still skeptical, but I at least thought about it in a different light for a moment.
Posted 12 Oct 2006 at 5:23 pm ¶
Shanda Smalls wrote:
In reality does it really matter what the motivations were for where the child came from? Ok, it does seem to be the thing to get “AFrican” babies… so what! Does it really matter? If the person truly wants a child and is going to provide love and supoort who cares? I mean in this example we have all know that Madonna has wanted more kids (and she has said do on more than one instance since before Rocco!)
I don’t think anyone especially someone as calculated as Madonna would thing this move would help her.
Now, the real issue isn’t that she got this child it’ sthat it appears the system has allowed her to fast-track things. Now, is that an issue for her? Or is that an issues for government offical and the adoption agencies.
If you are honest with yourself, anyone can say if they were desperate to get a child and could get the long drawn out process speed up they would!
Posted 20 Oct 2006 at 9:42 pm ¶
Neka Fisch wrote:
I can’t say that adopting African children on the celeb’s part is racial or not, cause I don’t know what’s in their hearts. One thing I do know, it makes things a little easier for me and my family to be out in public together. When celebrities do things, unfortuanately, the public follows along and at some point tends to accept things.
Ever since the movie “Something New”, for instance, I’ve seen, in just the area I live in, more and more black women with white men [in live in eastern NC]. When my husband and I first started dating 5 years ago, we stuck out where ever we went. Now, we see at least 4-6 couples, like us or the reverse, when we go out as a family [we have two beautiful children].
I think that what the celebs are doing, regardless of why they are doing it, is aiding in making things more open and making people get used to the idea breaking down racial barriers. I can’t lie and say that I do a double take when I see an all white family with a ‘black’ child [I instantly wonder if they are just trying to make themselves feel good]; but then I check myself and say “how do you know that they don’t love that child like they do their other children.”
Posted 01 Dec 2006 at 1:13 pm ¶
Olivia wrote:
Excuse selfrighteous person??? are YOU planning on adopting several hundred kids??? its soo easy to just sit there and complain about celbrities adopting but if we actually have to move our asses about it? its not our problem- we dont have the means
it disgusts me these people who are just jumping on the band wagon – these arguments are not actually DOINg anything to help – its tall poppy syndrome all over again – someone tries to something right and we all have to yell at them because we feel guilty
if adopyting one child doesnt help africa – well then we all just shouldnt bother it wont make any difference. HELLO what happened to every little bit helps!!! these poeple are at least trying but when YOU have spent 3 million dollars on dying orphaned kids only then can you accuse celbrities of not caring!
thanks very much LIV
Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 7:17 pm ¶
norlinol wrote:
hey! if you had just adopted a child from complete poverty wouldnt you be feeling quite good? why is everyone getting so pissed at celebrities? it you had a massive fortune i bet you – you wouldnt be spending it on orphans. people just dont work that way! these people have earned their money and have the right to spend it as they wish, i mean come on! she could be spending it on a solid gold statue of herself, but no, she is doing just a little bit to help the world, adopting a child. that is one more child who wont die in despair and poverty because of madonnas kindness – if the motive IS selfish (and HOW do you know?) then some good still comes out of it – one less child is going to die.
i am unimpressed by your attitude. are you donating most of your hard earned salary to charity? no? if you are then thats great! but if not – what gives you the right to persecute someone you dont even know
if you were her best friend i might belive you. but youre not. all you have learned has come from other biased tall poppy syndrome-ed individuals. we really need to find a cure for tall poppy syndrome cos more and more individuals are falling prey to it.
Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 10:38 pm ¶