ABOUT US
Friends Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington both discovered as adults they were adopted. Each quickly learned that Black Adoption is common, but taboo to speak about in private or publicly. The voices of Black adoptees - especially those adopted by Black families - are rarely heard. Most conversations about adoption are from the perspective of parents, typically White adoptive parents. If every birth has a story, why is no one telling ours? In 2019, Dr. Sam and Sandria partnered to create Black to the Beginning to disrupt the legacy of secrecy, stigma, shame and silence about Black Adoption. Black to the Beginning centers the voices and experiences of Black families and Black adult adoptees via adoptee coaching services, speaking engagements, and consultative services for those impacted by the Black Adoption Experience. Black to the Beginning also produces the critically-acclaimed The Black Adoption Podcast.
Vision
We envision a world where centering and amplifying Black Adoption Experiences transforms Black families for generations.
Mission
Black to the Beginning exists to disrupt the legacy of secrecy, stigma, shame and silence about Black Adoption.
What We Do
We amplify and change the narrative of Black Adoption through education, media, and storytelling.
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You have to listen to the podcast because it really encapsulates not only the Black adoption experience, but the Black Chicago experience, the Black life experience...
Dr. Zada Johnson
Anthropologist & Professor at Northeastern Illinois University
I was just really compelled by what Sam and Sandria have been able to do and really wanted to support the oral history work that they're doing, because what they're doing is research and they're helping people to explore their family stories.
Marcia Walker-McWilliams, PhD
Executive Director, Black Metropolis Research Consortium
Thank you so much for joining us at Pact Camp West. We have gotten so many responses from the participants who were thrilled with the provocative curriculum and we know that your insights and presentation was a big part of that. I so appreciate your commitment and support of BIPOC adoptees, foster youth and their parents. We are so lucky to have collaborators like you.
Beth Hall
Executive Director, Pact, An Adoption Alliance