HISTORY
WE CAN’T FIX THE PAST, BUT WE CAN
BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW
A. Social Injustice
B. Moral Dilemma
C. Psychological Trauma
D. Disrupted Neurodevelopment
E. Generations of Exploiting Breast Milk
PAST.
African American mothers were exploited as wet-nurses who were forced to sacrifice their own babies’ nourishment to breastfeed white infants during Slavery, which lasted throughout European colonization until ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865 – 165 years ago.
White slaveholders controlled enslaved women’s motherhood – placing the needs of others above those of the mothers and their babies as well – this unique gender exploitation was commonplace in the American south unfortunately. Accounts of enslaved wet-nurses indicate they were confined to the house and subjected to feedings at all times of day and night. Click here to see article for additional background.
PRESENT.
New mamas, from the beginning of time and from all parts of the world, have traditionally relied on community support, guidance,and help from family to breastfeed successfully. Due to historical practices and lingering systemic racism, African American mothers are currently facing considerably more barriers than mothers of any other race when it comes to their breastfeeding journeys and other racial injustices.
FUTURE.
We need to increase support for African American mothers in hospitals, clinics, schools, the workplace, and in our local communities until we close the existing breastfeeding support gap.