If Part 1 exposed the commodification of children, Part 2 dissects the machinery that keeps it running—and offers a roadmap for how we disrupt it. We return with Astrid Castro (Adoption Mosaic) and MJ (Maleeka Jihad) to move beyond the comfortable checklist of "cultural competency" and demand true Adoption Literacy.

In this conclusion to our conversation, we shift from the "why" to the uncomfortable "how." We discuss the dismantling of the ethical framework of modern adoption. Together, we explore the clash of value systems (axiology) that fuels entitlement—where white cultural values prioritize "ownership" (member-to-object) while Black and Latine values prioritize "relationship" (communal).

The episode concludes with a vision for the future: why adoption must cease to be a cure for infertility, why co-parenting is the only ethical standard, and how projects like "Letters to Stolen Loved Ones" are creating space for grief and repair.

Resources Mentioned:

• Adoption Mosaic (Astrid Castro)
• MJCF Coalition: Letters to Stolen Loved Ones Toolkit
• Study Mentioned: Edwards, Fong, & Apel (JAMA Pediatrics, Dec 2025) on foster care outcomes

When we talk about transracial adoption, the prevailing narrative is often one of "love rescued" and "happily ever after." But for many adoptees, the reality is a complex journey of loss, erasure, and survival.

In this episode, hosts Sonia and Classie are joined by two powerhouse guests: Astrid Castro, CEO of Adoption Mosaic and an intercountry adoptee, and MJ (Maleeka Jihad), an anti-racist strategist and expert on the family regulation system. Together, they dismantle the "rainbows and unicorns" status quo to reveal the transactional nature of the child welfare industry

In Part 2 of our series on Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), Sarah Katz and Corey Best return to examine the narratives that shape how the system justifies separating families.

They unpack the power of story—who gets to tell it, whose voice is believed, and how these narratives influence everything from court decisions to public opinion. This episode challenges us to look beyond “compliance” and ask what safety and accountability would look like if they were defined by families, not institutions.

Rooted in their co-authored essay, True Narratives: Framing Pain, Punishment, and the Lethality of Termination of Parental Rights, this conversation is a call to reimagine justice, truth-telling, and support that centers love—not liability.

Listen if you work in family defense, child welfare, or are questioning how the stories we uplift can either uphold or dismantle systemic harm.