Black Excellence – Alec Ingold

From the Field to the Family: Alec Ingold's Legacy of Giving Back

By K. Bean
Alec Ingold, fullback with the Oakland Raiders, during a game on December 29, 2019.

Alec Ingold stands as a shining example of Black excellence, both on and off the football field. As an NFL fullback for the Miami Dolphins, Ingold exemplifies dedication, athleticism, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His powerful blocking and contributions to the Dolphins' offense have solidified his place as a respected player in the league.

However, Ingold's impact extends far beyond the gridiron. Deeply rooted in his own experience as a transracially adopted child, he recognizes the profound importance of family and the transformative power of love and support. He understands firsthand the unique challenges faced by transracially adoptive children, including navigating issues of identity, race, and belonging.

Driven by this personal connection, Ingold is a passionate advocate for adoption. He established the Ingold Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to actively working to connect youth in foster care, particularly children of color, with loving and supportive families. He provides mentorship, resources, and a pathway to a brighter future, ensuring that these children have the opportunity to thrive.

Ingold's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of honoring one's roots. He embraces his heritage while breaking barriers in the NFL, inspiring countless individuals to strive for greatness in their own lives. His commitment to giving back to his community and advocating for foster and adoptive children exemplifies the true meaning of Black excellence – achieving success while uplifting others and making a positive impact on the world.

Read more about Alec’s adoption: Alec Ingold: Turning Adoption into a Superpower.

 


Book Corner – March 2023

Somewhere Sisters:
A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the
Meaning of Family

By Erika Hayasaki

 

Vietnamese twins Loan and Ha were separated when they were babies. Ha was raised by her aunt in a loving home in rural Vietnam. Loan was adopted, renamed Isabella, and grew up in a loving home in a Chicago suburb. Isabella’s American family weren’t told their daughter was a twin, and when they found out, Isabella’s mom started to search for Ha. After many years, Isabella and Ha finally met and began to truly reunite.

Somewhere Sisters is the story of Isabella, Ha, and their families, but it’s much more. Their story is a framework for information about many aspects of adoption and twinship. Readers will learn about twin research, the history of international and transracial adoption, how a child’s environment affects them, and much more. Somewhere Sisters is touching, informative – and very hard to put down!

Book Recommendations for Families Created in Transracial Adoption

Our Transracial Journeys families regularly seek out books to share with their children and to read for themselves, as white parents of black children. We are fortunate to have a resource in the Transracial Journey's Board of Direcors Secretary, Avril McInally. With a Master of Library Science from Kent State University and over 35 years as a public librarian, Avril and her colleague, Vicki Richards, collaborate to curate phenomenal book recommendations for our children and parents.   The Book Corner is a regular feature in our Transracial Journeys monthly newsletters. If you would like to receive monthly book recommendations via email, please subscribe.