This qualitative study explored the experiences of transracial Chinese adoptees who were born in China, separated from their biological families, raised in the United States by White families, and given an Anglicized name at the time of their adoption. This study focused on participant experiences as they navigated being raised in the United States as transracial Chinese adoptees, their feelings related to their Chinese names, thoughts about China and birth family search, and experiences of ethnic and racial socialization within their adoptive families. Data were collected from in-depth, semi-structured interviews via Skype that integrated a constructivist–interpretivist and critical epistemological paradigm and coded using grounded-theory methods. Participants ( N = 8) were transracial Chinese adoptees with ages ranging from 18 to 25 years ( M = 21.5 years) who were between 6 and 17 months ( M = 10.6 months) at the time of adoption. Results from the interviews revealed eight axial categories and three overarching selective categories related to their experience as transracial Chinese adoptees: (a) experiences of race and adoption, (b) factors influencing racial–ethnic socialization, and (c) recommendations for adoptive parents. Limitations of the study, future areas of research, and clinical and practice implications are discussed.
Introduction
James Baldwin (1924–1987) was a prolific African American author and activist whose writing centered primarily on race, sexuality, and religion. Baldwin’s lived experiences and breadth of knowledge provided him with a unique perspective of the Black experience in America, a theme he frequently revisited in his work and the impetus for his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Method
This article presents a psychobiographical application of Queering Black Racial Identity Development to conceptualize the life story of James Baldwin.
Results
This study explores the life of James Baldwin, highlights his influence as a historical figure and agent of social change, and explores the “why” of his life and behavior. Specifically, his decision to return to the United States during the Civil Rights Movement and possible reasons he avoided politicizing his sexuality in the same way he did his racial identity.
Conclusion
As an African American, nonheterosexual, male author and Civil Rights activist, Baldwin’s intersectional identities played a significant role in his decision to dedicate his life to writing and activism. Limitations of the study are discussed.
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