Friends Sandria Washington and Dr. Samantha Coleman both discovered as adults they were adopted. Each quickly learned that Black adoption is common, but taboo to speak about in private or publicly. They also discovered the difficulty in finding community for Black adoptees adopted by Black families. Sandria and Dr. Sam established Black to the Beginning, LLC in 2019 to amplify the Black Adoption conversation with Black adoptee and Black family voices at the center. In 2020 during National Adoption Awareness Month, Black to the Beginning: The Black Adoption Podcast launched. With each conversation, more healing happens for generations of Black families and #ForTheCulture!

Black and Adopted, two words that prior to 2019 you never really saw together. Especially not on social media. In April of 2018, only two instances of the hashtag #BlackAndAdopted were used on Instagram and both were by non-Black people (how Sway!). We know for a fact Black and adopted people exist, but where are we? Where are the communities for US? And, if left to Google, social media and the media at large, one would think most adopted Black babies are adopted transracially and never grow up to be adults who can speak for themselves. Black adoptees are also adopted by Black families - for generations, formally and informally - and we become adults. We are EVERYWHERE. Our Black Adoption Experiences matter. We are here as Black Adoptees to be visible and heard!