I think social workers should come clean about the success of adoptions generally, in order to move the debate away from the issue of cross-racial adoptions alone. A lot of children are simply not suitable for adoption and their needs are such that adoptive parents are unable to cope. In these cases, long term fostering is often a better alternative, and the colour of a foster carer is secondary, because there are simply not enough black and asian foster carers. Where a child is suitable for adoption, and can go on to have a happy and fulfilled life, they should go to a family of the same colour if there is one available right now, or if not to a family that satisfy all the other criteria. That family will be probably be white, but then most people in this society are white, and having parents or adoptive parents who share your skin colour doesn't make racism disappear. Anyone who has looked into adopting a child will know what a shambles the whole process is. There are too many social workers who enjoy the power to ask inappropriate questions ("how many times a week do you have sex?") and to delay with all sorts of petty excuses ("You say you've bought new cupboards for the kitchen? we'll have to do another health and safety assessment then"). It's not just about race it's about a fascist culture at the heart of social work. It is far easier to blame social workers,