Assignment 4-1: Weekly Analysis

Within the last few years, there has been an increasing trend with celebrities to adopt children from foreign countries such as Africa. Two of the biggest names involved in this fad are Angelina Jolie and Madonna. There has been a lot of interest in the celebrity circle with charity work and helping others. However, many people are suspicious. While some celebrities do have the right intentions, others have been accused of making their philanthropy work into a publicity stunt.

Jolie was one of the first to initiate the adoption fad. In 2002, she adopted Maddox from Cambodia, followed by Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005, and finally Pax from Vietnam in 2007. Jolie and Brad Pitt, who acts as a father for these children, are not done with their adoption spree yet. Ellen Charles, 2007, author of “A Star is Adopted,” reports that Pitt has “been looking at Chad and the Czech Republic” for another child to adopt (p. 55). Jolie has been applauded for her generosity, but some still wonder if this could be a way to gain attention and recognition.

Madonna jumped on the bandwagon in 2006 when she adopted David from Malawi. There was a lot of controversy over this adoption. It has been reported that Madonna used here iconic status to illegally adopt David. Marc Lamont Hill, 2006, author of “It’s Official: Africa is Now a Hollywood Fad,” explains that Madonna “essentially paid off the Malawi government and scooped a young child from his unsuspecting poor single father” (p. 13). The father claims he did not know his rights or understand the adoption procedures. Madonna has received a lot of attention from this scandal because if she really wanted to do a good thing, she could have adopted a parentless child.

While Angelina Jolie and Madonna are two of the more recognizable names when discussing celebrity adoptions, there are many more who have also adopted children from around the world. Among these starts are Meg Ryan, Ewan McGregor, Steven Spielberg and Mia Farrow.


References

Charles, E. (2007). A Star Is Adopted. Mother Jones, 32, 55. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.

Hill, M. L. (2006). It's official: Africa is now a Hollywood fad. New York Amsterdam News, 97, 13. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from http://0web.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu:80/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=2a0ff687-27cd-425a-a487-1832861b91fa%40SRCSM2.