HuffPost: Voices of Adoptionland compiled by the Vance Twins & The Unknown Culture Club.

Rev. Dr. Janine Vance’s books are mentioned in Huffington Post:

Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists

AdoptionLand: From Orphans to Activists is an indispensable contribution to adoption literature, compiled by Janine and Jenette Vance. The essays, poems, and letters in this compilation reflect the thoughts, feelings, the souls of those who inhabit Adoptionland — a place of truth and acceptance for the casualties of the demand for children.

Read HuffPost article: Voices From AdoptionLand

Mirah Riben, Contributor, is an author who writes about issues of social justice with a focus on exposing the corruption in the child adoption industry.

The anthology brings together twenty-eight men and women. Many are internationally and/or inter-racially adopted. Asian babies are scattered around the globe like seeds in the wind, hoping some will flourish. One taken from Germany and another sent to Germany illustrates the haphazard irrationality of international adoption and begs the question: how could this be in the children’s best interest?

Like most of those adopted, many contributors were loved and felt great affection for their adoptive parents. One did not know he was adopted until well into adulthood. Another was adopted at ten years of age by a sexually abusive man after having been abused by a foster family and a “trial” summer adoption. Regardless of their personal circumstances, many grew up to see the fallacies and failings in the adoption process and now work to create change in the system.

Interspersed with the voices of these adoptees are mothers and a father who lost their children to adoption.

Read HuffPost: The History of Child Adoption

The Unknown Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now, compiled by the Vance Twins

Janine Myung Ja, the author of Adoption: What You Should Know (now on audio), is the compiler and co-editor of two anthologies: Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists and The ‘Unknown’ Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now.

Janine’s exploration of adoption is far more than a history. She critically examines the “Cult–ure” revealing the hidden side of adoption that has been systematically kept from public view for the benefit of profits.”

“ . . . the inception and growth of the adoption industry, focusing on its roots and its never-ending life-altering consequences kept from public awareness” for “the benefit of profits and proselytizing.”

Because adoption today is rooted in the overseas shipment of children, she starts her 187-page historical journey, packed with quotes from adoptees, with the 1618 European Child Migration Schemes that began with Australian Aborigines. From there, she explores the 1854 American Orphan Trains, followed by the 1954 Evangelical Orphan Planes from Asia. Finally, she takes readers to 1984 and Trafficking from Haiti and Africa, noting that adoption began with:

“…three purposes: to populate colonies, to improve the economy, and to appear philanthropic . . . [by] labeling children first as orphans.”

Myung Ja researches and writes, exposing ugly truths because she strongly believes that knowledge is power and because “humanity is better able to protect itself from exploitation when given a historical view.” She hopes to counter the “ignorance is bliss” attitude that is so pervasive, with too few wanting to face the fact that adoption is “lose-win.”

“The idea of adopting appears to be the most natural remedy ingrained into the western psyche. Hearing about the starving children is… commonplace … but no one is told about the mothers and fathers left behind. How did the market become as adored as it is today? Why is it considered ‘in the child’s best interest’?

“The love for the practice is so strong that the uninformed mainstream verbally persecutes and demonizes anyone courageous enough to be a messenger and criticize the act . . . Any unethical adoption case is derided as ‘isolated’ or a mere ‘irregularity.’

“In other industries, unethically sourced products are motive to place a market moratorium. When it comes to children’s lives – not so.”

Janine is just that courageous! Throughout her manifesto, she gives voice to “Taken children from deprived families” by “critiquing a man-made industry that has given itself permission to acquire other people’s children.”

The author, who, like all adoptees, had her past stolen from her, brings us this history of adoption because “To find answers, we must unearth the past.” This is so individually and as a society.

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