Life
Black family adopts white baby and gets lesson in love
A little boy, Princeton, was born. He was premature and only weighed one pound and had to stay in the NICU. His mother was addicted to drugs. That's when this family stepped in.
Heidi Kennedy
09.09.19

Keia Jones-Baldwin and her husband, Ricardo Baldwin, live in North Carolina and have three children. They were planning to adopt a fourth child but were not expecting a baby. But when a tiny baby needed love most of all, this family jumped in. They are a living example of a family that chooses love over everything else.

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Keia got a call from her foster care supervisor.

A little boy, Princeton, was born. He was premature and only weighed one pound and had to stay in the NICU. His mother was addicted to drugs. That’s when Jones-Baldwins foster care supervisor gave her a call and asked if she would be willing to go to the hospital and hold the baby, providing some much needed, skin-to-skin contact. 36-year-old Jones-Baldwin did not hesitate.

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“I bonded with him so quickly,” said Jones-Baldwin.

She started going to the hospital every day to see the tiny baby and hold him. She gave him love and comfort as he gained his strength to leave the NICU.

They adopted Princeton.

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The original plan was for Princeton to stay with the family for three months, but the family fell in love and they decided to adopt him. Ricardo and Keia have three other children, 8-year-old Ayden, 15-year-old Zariyah, and 16-year-old Jarleigh. The whole family loves little Princeton to pieces.

“When Princeton came into our lives, he came into our hearts.” explains Jones-Baldwin.

The family is loving their life with the new addition. Jones-Baldwin says that Princeton is “hilarious” and loves to get kisses.

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The family still receives backlash.

Being judged because their family is African-American and Princeton is white, the family has been turned in to the police several times for attempted kidnapping charges. People stare and make rude comments to the family.

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Thoughtless people ask if Jones-Baldwin and her family are babysitting or ask why someone wouldn’t let Princeton say with “someone his own race”. She has had to show her adoption papers, proving that Princeton is her son.

Jones-Baldwin explains another incident after having to stop in front of a house with a flat tire: “I knocked on his door to explain why I was on his grass,” she said. “He called the police and said I stole my car and the baby.”

But the family has kept a good perspective and uses these opportunities to show others that love has nothing to do with race. They started a Facebook page and a blog to help shine some light on the love of a blended family.

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This family has all of the love, care, and support that Princeton needs. It doesn’t matter if the color of his skin is different than his brother and sisters or his parents.

“I don’t look at family as blood. I look at family as love,” says Jones-Baldwin.

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The outreach of supports, though, have also poured in to the family. There are several comments on their Facebook page, praising the families love for one another.

Facebook commentator, Brittany Thornton, says, “God bless your family. The world needs more of this love. 🖤 thanks for adopting , from a foster kid myself , you’re changing lives.”

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Love conquers all.

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