When choosing from among available sperm donors, intended parents can review and make decisions based on a variety of donor characteristics, including race. In the wake of the Memorial Day murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department and subsequent national Black Lives Matter protests, some intended parents have found themselves questioning whether they should be considering the donor’s race and, if so, what impact a decision to choose a donor whose race is different than their own could bring for their child down the road.

This New York Times article explores some of the potential considerations intended parents face when weighing this decision. The author points out that choosing sperm from an African American donor does not necessarily mean that the child’s skin or hair will look like society expects “black” hair and skin to appear. But, no matter what the child’s outward appearance, parents who raise a child with African American heritage must also decide whether – and to what extent – they should take measures to protect the child from the racially charged world George Floyd and so many other innocent victims live in.

Frankly, none of us knows what the world will look like in the coming decades. Will the protests and growing social awareness of racism mean parents of black children will be able to breathe a little easier when their children venture into the world as young adults? There is reason for hope.

Ultimately, as the article’s author points out, racism is not a reason for white parents-to-be to avoid using sperm from a black sperm donor. After all, plenty of wildly successful people – including President Obama – were raised by parents who didn’t look like them.

To learn more about how The Surrogacy Law Center works with intended parents, contact us today!