by Jonti, adopted from Sri Lanka to Australia
Racial abuse and hatred has been something transracial adoptees experience or witness happening to someone around us. It’s been something I’ve personally lived and unfortunately, probably will experience again. Unless there’s a dramatic change to the global culture, racial abuse and hatred will always be around us and treated as the norm in every day life.
It has been a triggering experience to dive back into and relive past emotions about the racial abuse I’ve suffered. The reason I wrote and put myself through this, is not just to get my past traumas down on paper, but to help educate and raise awareness of what happens in the lives of people who have adoptive, multicultural and diverse backgrounds in the hope that more might be done to help change society to be tolerant and supportive of transracial adoptees like me.
Everyone bleeds, dies and has a heart beat but unfortunately people criticise and abuse others based on how we look, what we do, or what our cultural and ethnic background is. They fail to judge based on important things like how we think or how good our hearts are.
Through my personal life experiences and current growth I realise the individuals who are dishing out the abuse are often the ones with the real issues and problems. They may struggle to smile, show warmth or have unconditional happiness in their challenging life situations.
Lastly, for those of you who have taken the time to read this, I appreciate it and thank you as I know this may have been quite challenging and traumatic to read and process. Sending a big hug to you all.
I hope fellow adoptees will realise you are not alone on this journey. I know it’s hard in my current situation in prison to share correspondence but I’m here with you and always will be. If you would like to make contact with me via snail mail, contact ICAV (Lynelle) who has my contact details.
Hugs to you all, Jonti
Resources
The most invisible adoptees (those incarcerated)
Racism in transracial intercountry adoption (webinar)
Lived Experience of Racism in intercountry adoption (perspective paper)