Celeb Adoption Obsession

By Yaminah Ahmad June 4, 09:38 AM

It seems the “Material Girl” is more maternal these days. ‘80s music icon Madonna just received some good news. A Malawian judge approved the pop star’s adoption of baby boy David Banda.

It’s been a two-year battle for her with a lot of media poking and prodding in poor little David’s past. Apparently, his mother died of AIDS and his dear old dad handed him to an orphanage. He even remarried and had more kids. Malawian law forbids foreigners to adopt but the judge made an exception. Otherwise, he would have been destined to a life of destitute in the impoverished southern African nation. Now, he’s living in the lap of luxury with his London-based parents.

Adopting children from poor African countries is a hot ticket for white female celebs whose lives are constantly the focal point of some nosy paparazzi that’s trying to make a quick buck (often to the tune of K) to plaster it over the Internet and on the cover of every gossipy magazine. What a life.

Take Lil Ms. Cutie Zahara, the Ethiopian daughter of Hollywood movie stars sexy Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Jolie said when she saw her this desperation came over her to save her. "She had a choice of life or death -- because some children that were in a very similar situation to her passed away at that time, [kids] who didn't get out in time," Jolie said to ABC.

Currently, the Hollywood power couple have their biological daughter, 22-month-old Shiloh and two other adopted children: sons Maddox, 6; and Pax, 4. They are also expecting twins any day now.

I remember Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, the king and queen of Black Hollywood, giving friend Tom Cruise a ‘bling’ gift basket full of stereotypical stuff to basically give him a black pass. It was a joke, but I’m thinking it might come in handy.

Why not make it mandatory for Madonna and her husband, director Guy Ritchie, as well as Branjolina, to receive some sort of diversity basket or even a “How to Survive in a White World” handbook written by the Smiths. After all, they’ve got to be the most classy ghetto couple in LA. Young David and Zahara will need those skills to move in and out of their parents’ world.

In that book there’s gotta be a chapter called, “The Wish Factor,” elaborating on Cedric the Entertainer’s bit about how black folks don’t play when it comes to people sitting in our paid seats at concerts; or what about “Driving While Black.” Little David will need to know to keep his hands visible at all times and how to address police if and when he gets pulled over. And Ms. Zahara definitely needs a chapter called “Love Your Junk,” which will help build self-esteem and a positive body image since she’ll probably go to school with skinny white girls. She has to know there’s nothing wrong with having a black girl’s booty.

I think it’s a wonderful for celebs to have enough compassion in their heart for impoverished African children, so much so, they invite them into their lives. It’s an honorable thing. I just hope they honor each of their children’s heritages enough to learn about it and surround themselves with people who are living it day to day. I’m sure there’s somebody out there that’ll have his or her backs. Anybody got Al Sharpton’s number?