| Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib |  | Author: Jaiya John
Publisher: Soul Water Rising
Category: Book
List Price: $17.00
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Seller: whiteysbooks
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 317,954
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Pages: 350
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 1
ISBN: 0971330816
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9780971330818
ASIN: 0971330816
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
July 15, 1968. It is only three months following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the nation is burning. Black and White America are locked in the tense grip of massive change. Into this inferno steps an unsuspecting young White couple. Neither significantly knew even a single African American person while growing up. Now, a child will change all of that forever. In this fateful moment, a Black baby becomes perhaps the first in the history of New Mexico to be adopted by a White family. Here is a brazenly honest glimpse into the mind and heart of that child, a true story for the ages that flows like a soulful riverseparated from his mother at birth, placed into foster care, adopted, and finally reunited with his biological family in adulthoodan astounding journey of personal discovery. Jaiya John has opened the floodgates on his own childhood with this piercing memoir. Black Baby White Hands, a waterfall of jazz splashing over the rocks of love, pain and the honoring of family. Magically, this book finds a way to sing as it cries, and to exude compassion even as it dispels well-entrenched myths. This story is sure to find itself well worn, stained by tears, and brushed by laughter in the lap of parents, adolescents, educators, students and professionals. Here comes the rain and the sunshine, all at once.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 38
 Thank you, Jaiya, for sharing your soul... August 26, 2003
48 out of 54 found this review helpful
Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib by Dr. Jaiya John touched my soul. It is a journey into the world of a child who was a stranger surrounded by well meaning adoptive parents who were unable to reach the depth of his heart and soul. As you read his book, you move through the depth of a range of emotions and emerge with a hope that armed with sensitivity and knowledge, there is a future for the children caught up in the system. Prior to adopting my first child 25 years ago, I read a book about the account of an adoptee. That story enabled me to prepare myself for how my children might feel being adopted. Dr. John's book is the "Transracial Adoption Bible" sorely needed in this arena. As a transracial adoptive parent, adoption worker and trainer, "Black Baby" has become required reading for those families that I work with or train who desire to parent transracially. When I train prospective aodptive parents, all of them indicate that they want the best for their children. If we look at ourselves honestly, we realize we cannot be everything to our child. Jaiya's poignant life journey compels us to shed our color-blind ideas and recognize we live in a race conscious society that will see color and react according to preconceived notions. We cannot protect our children forever; we must give them the tools to survive in this society. For those who have or are considering adopting transracially, once you read "Black Baby", you will have walked in Jaiya's shoes and you cannot help but come away enlightened and armed with the knowledge you need to do right by the children you love so much. Thank you, Jaiya, for sharing your soul. We need you in this field "It takes a whole village to raise a child."
Courageous words spoken for our children. August 14, 2003
Diane Kendall, PhD (Gainesville, Florida United States)
20 out of 23 found this review helpful
I am a single white mother of an adopted black daughter living in a small, predominately white, southern town. As Jaiya's life journey unfolded across the pages, I heard my daughter's voice speak to me from her crib. The words I heard were my fears that keep me awake at night. By sharing his life, Jaiya brings to light the responsibility that we (as adults who have chosen a transracial family) have to embrace, respect, love and consiously integrate the culture, origin of birth and race of our children. Thank you Jaiya for courageously speaking for our children. May their lives be blessed.
A positive, hopeful, revealing story July 18, 2006
Asha (St. Louis, MO)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
As someone who works with adoptive families, I can say that this book is just the kind of truthful, balanced story adoptive families need to be exposed to. The review dated July 3, 2006 must be from a person who did not truly read this book, at least not with an open spirit. There is absolutely no bitterness or negativity in this book. The author is piercingly honest about what he felt and thought AS A CHILD. This should not be confused with his adult perspective. The entire book is a loving testimony to the devoted love of his adoptive family and the very human fragility we all carry within our relationships. Jaiya John absolutely does not conclude anything negative from his experience. Just the opposite, he finds a higher meaning in the purpose and circumstance of his life and his belonging within his family. Anyone who has heard this author speak publically understands that he exudes an incredible level of peace, compassion, and open-heartedness and that he and his adoptive family are close. This book is devoted to sharing one child's truth in a way that should open us all to the truth within every child, including the child within us. Well written, insightful, and full of humor, appreciation, and a hopeful message for families.
Life Changing April 4, 2006
Cashia J. (Maryland)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I laugh. I shake my head and feel kinship. I cry and take long walks. I sigh and realize my parents didn't know how to protect me-it wasn't malice. I get why I am the way I am. 36 years of baggage is disappearing. I am so thankful that Jaiya John wrote his story and that I was lead to it. I marvel at the similarities in our circumstances that I thought only I owned. I have a new level of understanding about why I do the things I do to this day.
It is such a relief to me that after all these years there is proof that I wasn't making up stories about feeling lost and alone. This book have given me a self-assurance I never had before and because of it I walk in the world differently because I know I deserve to. Conversations about my life are being spoken. I got an apology from my biological father...and felt peace. People have no idea how much this book has changed my life.
This Truth Can Not Be Denied By White Parents January 5, 2007
Karen Wood (California)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
As a white sister of an African American boy adopted in 1970,a mother of two Ethiopian children and a soical woker creating multiracially families I have to say this is the most true,painful and amazing book I have read. I painfully made my way through the book for the first time truly understanding the depth of my brother's experience. Wanting to deny what Jaiya was sharing but knowing he was right. Remembering too many painful moments for my brother. However,celebrating the progress we have made and the changes I have made as a mother of black children but also agonizing over the changes we have not made.... It is now required reading for all of my families wanting to adopt across the racial lines.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 38
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