On Jan. 21, Will, a 36-year-old white man, posted a TikTok video of himself attempting to brush his Black infant daughter Zoë’s hair and asking for guidance on how to care for her hair texture. In the since-deleted video, Will, who adopted Zoë with his husband, called on “Black TikTok” for advice, sparking a wave of accusations suggesting the adoption was solely for social media content, according to NBC News.

Will has since expressed regret over the unintended message conveyed in the video. He emphasized the importance of intentional community building around Zoë, stating, “I want Zoë to grow up to love herself. That includes her personality, her skin color, her hair, everything.”

Transracial adoption, particularly when white parents adopt Black children, has long been a subject of debate. Research indicates that Black adopted children with a strong sense of ethnic and racial identity tend to experience positive outcomes. However, challenges arise when racial differences are minimized or ignored.

Hannah Jackson Matthews, a transracial adoptee, shared her experiences of racism and feeling misunderstood. In response to such challenges, Matthews founded HeyTRA, an online community to support transracial adoptive families in navigating race, embracing racial identity, and combating racism.

“Adoptees grow up racially, culturally isolated from other adoptees,” Matthews said. “With the internet, we’ve been able to see that, yes, we are a minority within a minority, but we’re not alone.”

Advocates and experts stress the importance of community for raising Black children in white families. The Donaldson report highlights that acknowledging race, enrolling in diverse schools, and providing Black role models contribute to a greater sense of racial pride among transracial adoptees.

Will, responding to online claims that he didn’t consider race until after Zoë’s adoption, affirmed that he and his husband have discussed racism and its impact on Zoë’s life. He emphasized their engagement with a diverse community and sought advice from Black friends, countering accusations of a lack of racial awareness.

Karen Valby, a white woman with two Black daughters, acknowledged that many white adoptive parents may initially lack awareness but emphasized the importance of learning and building connections within the Black community.

RELATED CONTENT: Meet Tamara Brown, The Co-Founder Behind Black Adoption Matters