Challenging Institutional Racism in UK Adoption Practices: Black Adoptee Narratives and Social Media Advocacy

Over the last four years, there has been an increase in exploring racism embedded in UK social work practices, ending racial disparity in adoption (ASGLB, 2023) and a call to “become an anti-racist profession” (What Works, 2022), as well as an increased focus on the role of social media in adoption practices. However, despite the emphasis on decreasing discrimination and bias, particularly for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in adoption practices, the UK adoption system is still “institutionally racist” (Adopt England, 2024). A gap can be seen in understanding the personal narratives of Black adult adoptees in the UK who use social media platforms to critique the adoption system and the systemic inequalities embedded in UK adoption practices. This paper explores the key themes that shape individual UK adult adoptee narratives, how these reflect the legacy of colonialism in the UK, and how Black adult adoptees utilise social media to critique the adoption system. Drawing on the Adoptee Consciousness Model and decolonial theory, thematic and critical discourse analysis was conducted on 35 scroll-back semi-structured interviews with UK adult adoptees. The study identified four key themes: Secrecy and Lies, Race and Identity, Structural Inequality and Validation, and Colonial Legacies in Adoption Practices. The findings of this study showed similarities running through adoptee identity narratives and that adoptees use these platforms as spaces for self-expression, connection, and advocacy. Additionally, the findings show how Black adoptee identity narratives reflect colonial practices in adoption, particularly in terms of being othered, the legal separation of family origins, and name changes, highlighting the need for ongoing policy changes promoting anti-racist practices in the child social care system integrating the voices of Black adult adoptees in the decision-making process.