Black History Month/MLK Day: A Story Of An Adoptive Father
If you don't know what Black History Month is, here's info:http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
(This guy is J.D., he works for a radio station called 'SOS Radio' and is a proud adoptive father of four African American kids, this is his story. )
(Even though he originally posted this for MLK day, I feel it still holds relevance and I really wanted to share it.) 
His Dream… My reality…
August 28th 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have A Dream Speech”, 15,717 days later… that dream became my reality.
Growing up I can remember my Dad saying “There’s evil in every group of people… but there is also compassion, love and greatness that out numbers that evil.”
Spending the first 8 years of my life in Pasadena, Ca would baptize me in diversity. Looking at my grade school class pictures I see my friends from 30 years ago. Others might see a diverse mix of 1st graders that represent several ethnic groups… To this day I still just see my friends.
15.717 days after Dr. King’s speech, a little girl was placed in my arms. It was her first birthday and she needed a family. Like a polaroid that will never fade, I can still picture the look on Abby’s face. I saw my hopes, dreams and an indescribable feeling of love.
Abby kicked open the door to our family. Jeremy followed six months later. Corey stopped by a year later for a two week visit… that turned into forever. We had all the baby stuff out… So Sumo decided to show up. Audrey spent the first year of her life in San Francisco and decided she wanted to hang out with her half brother ( Corey ) and his siblings. We adopted everyone but Sumo… but she will always be a part of our family.
I look at our family pictures and I see my family. I am in awe of the beautiful children God has given me the privilege to raise. I don’t see the difference in the color of our skin. I know it’s there…but I see the pieces of my heart in each child.
Dr. King’s dream helped pave the way for families like mine. Is his dream complete… no it’s not. We have experienced trouble from others for the diversity of our family. Statements like “ They belong with their own kind.” or “Couldn’t you have had white babies.” These are just some of the gems that have been shared over the past 10 years of being a mixed race family. Even saying “mixed race” makes me cringe. These kiddos are mine… they are my family.
As we remember Dr. King today… I pray we continue to make progress. I pray we continue to move towards making his dream our worlds reality.
Comments
Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the best civil rights movement leaders , in that he did not resort to violence to get his way and he was always sincere in his politics.