As a Black mother of four boys, my heart fills with joy being in community with, acknowledging the struggles within and celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week alongside other Black families. 2021 is the year to engage our national leaders!

Here is the deal: While the majority of Black families want to breastfeed, many face significant barriers in meeting their breastfeeding goals. This is a life and death matter. Black babies are dying at twice the rate (in some places, nearly triple) the rate of white babies. This horrifying fact is fixable! According to the CDC, increased breastfeeding among Black women could decrease infant mortality rates by as much as 50%. [1]

Everyone who becomes pregnant, gives birth, and who is breastfeeding should have access to a safe, healthy, and respectful experience. It is time for Congress to meet the needs of Black breastfeeding families and ensure healthy outcomes for mothers and babies.

The high Black infant mortality rate: Black babies are dying at rates higher than any other group including a rate that is more than twice the rate of white babies. [2] This is a fact that should be deeply disturbing to everyone. While the United States ranks among the worst industrialized nations for infant mortality for all babies (that would be 33rd out of 36th) this means that Black babies have the worst odds of survival. One known medical factor is that babies born too early, too small and/or too sick have the greatest need of human milk; these babies also tend to be disproportionately Black. [3] Breastfeeding is widely accepted as a highly effective method of infant mortality prevention.

Lack of diversity in the lactation field: Acclaimed journalist and BBW co-founder Kimberly Seals-Allers says it best in “Top 5 Reasons We Need a Black Breastfeeding Week:” “Not only are there glaring racial disparities in breastfeeding rates, there is a blatant disparity in lactation support and leadership as well. Most breastfeeding advocacy is led by white women. This is a problem. For one, it unfortunately perpetuates the common misconception that Black women don’t breastfeed. It also means that many of the lactation professionals, though well-intentioned, are not culturally competent, sensitive or relevant enough to properly deal with African American moms.”

Families deserve to have access to diverse, culturally responsive and dignified lactation support.

“This is a week to discuss the lack of diversity among lactation consultants and to change our narrative. A time to highlight, celebrate, and showcase the breastfeeding champions in our community who are often invisible.” - Kimberly Seals-Allers

The early days with a newborn are intense for all families. Seals-Allers goes on to explain how social and historical factors compound these realities for Black families:

Unique cultural barriers among Black women: While many of the “booby traps”™ to breastfeeding are universal, Black women also have unique cultural barriers and a complex history connected to breastfeeding. From our role as wet nurses in slavery being forced to breastfeed and nurture our slave owners’ children often to the detriment of our children, to the lack of mainstream role models and multi-generational support, to our own stereotyping within our community—we have a different dialogue around breastfeeding and it needs special attention.

Desert-Like Conditions in Our Communities: Many African American communities are “first food deserts”—it’s a term I coined to describe the desert-like conditions in many urban areas I visited where women cannot access support for the best first food-breast milk. It is not fair to ask women, any woman, to breastfeed when she lives in a community that is devoid of support. It is a set up for failure. It is time for Congress to act in support of Black breastfeeding families!

P.S. Recognizing Black Breastfeeding Week is a first step in supporting Black families. Urge your Member of Congress to follow up their support by enacting the most comprehensive legislative effort yet to address the Black maternal health crisis in America - The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act!

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