A War Born Family

Main Themes and Topics

A War Born Family by Kori A. Graves is an enlightening examination of the complex socio-political and racial dynamics that surrounded the transnational adoption of Korean-black children following the Korean War. The book delves deeply into how the intersection of racial purity ideologies, legal statelessness of children born to American soldiers and Korean women, and the prevalent segregation in American society influenced these adoption processes. Graves artfully uncovers the role of African American families in challenging and navigating the discriminatory child welfare system to adopt Korean-black children. The work sheds light on how these adoption efforts intersected with the civil rights movement and the broader geopolitical context of the Cold War, pushing agencies to reconsider African American families as adoptive parents.

Writing Style and Tone

Kori A. Graves demonstrates a scholarly yet accessible writing style in A War Born Family. Her meticulous research is evident through the seamless integration of data from black newspapers, interviews, and case studies. The tone is informative and empathetic, effectively capturing the emotional depth and resilience of the African American families involved. Graves balances a factual narrative with personal stories to bring a nuanced perspective to the historical discourse of transnational adoption and racial dynamics.

Brief Summary

A War Born Family explores the historical context and challenges around the transnational adoption of children born to Korean women and American soldiers after the Korean War, focusing particularly on the Korean-black children. With Korean laws excluding these children from citizenship based on paternal lineage, they were rendered stateless and faced discrimination on multiple fronts. African American families emerged as key adopters, confronting systemic biases while carving out new possibilities for these children’s futures. The book highlights the intersection of these adoption efforts with broader social changes during the Cold War and the civil rights movement, providing insightful analysis into the reevaluation of African American adoptive capabilities by child welfare agencies.