You know them. The moms who rock headwraps. The ones who only eat vegan? You know, the ones who name their baby Quinoa!. Those are the only moms who breastfeed, right? Wrong.
Today kicks off the 3rd annual Black Breastfeeding Week. From August 25th-31st, African American women around the country are showing that not everyone who chooses to breastfeed is a “crunchy” mom. This year, the women behind Black Breastfeeding Week are celebrating the strength, power, and unity of families and communities to Lift Every Baby.
Founded by Kimberly Seals-Allers, award winning journalist and author of The Mocha Manual to A Fabulous Pregnancy; Kiddada Green, founding executive director of Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA); and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka,midwifery student and co-author of Free to Breastfeed:Voices of Black Mothers; Black Breastfeeding Week aims to raise support and awareness of breastfeeding in the African American community.
“…For years, the only images we saw of black women breastfeeding were women from Africa–tribal women with elongated earrings and dangling breasts.” – Kimberly Seals-Allers, Co-Founder, Black Breastfeeding Week
Black Breastfeeding Week exposes the nation to the millions of black women who breastfeed. She states that African American “neighborhoods are virtual deserts when it comes to meaningful breastfeeding resources and support while they are simultaneously flooded with aggressive infant formula marketing.” Black Breastfeeding Week began in 2013 to combat the racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. The Center for Disease Control reports that while 75% of White women breastfeed, only 58.9% of black women do.
This year’s theme affirms family and community, asking breastfeeding moms to join in lifting up their babies on Saturday, August 29th at 2pm. Brooklyn’s Ancient Song Doula Services is coordinating “Ready, Set…Lift Every Baby,” a community event that celebrates motherhood and breastfeeding. Including an empowerment circle, womb wellness freebies, and a raffle, the doula collective is changing the way Brooklyn views breastfeeding.
For more information on Black Breastfeeding Week and events in your area, go to BlackBreastfeedingWeek.org.
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I love this! I’m glad that our communities are working to normalize breastfeeding. Just 10 years ago when I decided to breastfeed my son I can’t tell you how may whys and just out of the way remarks I got. Glad I had tough skin and didn’t let that deter me. I’m hoping campaigns like this will get the word out and change our communities perception on breastfeeding and encourage mothers to take this route when they can.
Mimi, I’m glad to see that breastfeeding is becoming more widely accepted in our community. Black Breastfeeding Week helps to normalize breastfeeding and celebrate families.
I love this, I’m so proud to be a member of this club. I breastfed both of my kids for 14 months each. It was the best choice for my family. I will share my post about black women breastfeeding this week.
More power to you, Mimi! I breastfed my first for a year, but found it really difficult to keep up with my second when I went back to work. I applaud you for sticking with it.