Black Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding...It's a Beautiful Thing

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I could fill a book...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

... with all the wonderful breastfeeding imagery I am finding in the Library of Congress digital collections. I cannot believe what I am laying my eyes on, pictures I never imagined existed. I am discovering photos of black women breastfeeding, even in a time when formula was readily available and each time I want to cry.

Admittedly, these pictures are usually of rural women who really have no other choice than to breastfeed. Nevertheless, they did feed their children naturally and I have seen and posted pictures of mothers who were just as poor and lived in rural areas whose babies were fed with formula. For me these pictures are groundbreaking.

I am almost certain that the art of breastfeeding with black women was lost during the big migration north. Black women had to work in the fast-paced cities and that left little to no time to breastfeed, thus rendering formula the accepted alternative. That alternative is still with us today.

I'd like to introduce you to this woman, a sharecropper's wife, living in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1936. Notice her husband. He isn't one bit disgusted by his wife breastfeeding and his baby suckling, is he? Now, federal departments, like WIC, have to re-teach black men to understand breastfeeding is natural and right. I don't care what some people say about this statement: Formula companies have done a lot of damage to the black community. The evidence is right in our faces.

Labels: breastfeeding history

posted by Jennifer James @ 11:42 AM,

30 Comments:

At June 27, 2007 12:55 PM, Jennifer said...: Maybe now it's sinking in your fat head that women of color have ALWAYS breastfed at a time when they were able to...but you'll probably continue to go on and on about the po', ignint nigra girls who just need to be enlightened by your and your ilk, as opposed to facing the truth about black women and the low breastfeeding rates.

(I know I said I was going to leave you to your poverty pimping in peace, but what can I say? Your very existence irks me.)
At June 27, 2007 4:47 PM, Doulala said...: jennifer, what is the "truth" about black women and the low breastfeeding rates?

If her existence irks you, why do you keep coming back?
At June 27, 2007 6:13 PM, Jennifer said...: I don't think answering in a whopping three entries out of however many she's written counts as "many". But try again.

And anyone who discusses black women and breastfeeding and completely leaves out financial status isn't to be taken seriously. Black women don't formula feed because they're so ignorant that they don't know any better, as Jemima wants us all to believe.
At June 27, 2007 9:52 PM, Doulala said...: jennifer, I'm guessing you were replying to my comment even though you didn't address either of my questions.
I don't know what you are talking about when you say "many" and "try again".
Also, I have never seen Jennifer say or even imply that black women formula feed because they are "so ignorant and don't know any better".

You are the same jennifer that called breast milk "SOOPER MAJIKUL
TIDDY JOOCE", right? And you think Jennifer is making WOC seem "ignint"?

It is incredibly rude and disrespectful to come here and call Jennifer "Jemima" (here as well as other places). But that is your intention of course, to be rude and disrespectful.
All of that should have told me that I shouldn't expect to have a logical or reasonable discussion with you about this or any other topic.
At June 27, 2007 10:46 PM, Jennifer said...: Doulala, maybe you're such a kiss-ass that the behavior of other black women makes you cringe, but I'm not. I mean, ol' Mammy Two-Shoes here tells all kinds of ridiculous, uninformed lies to sell her point, but it doesn't exactly make me look bad. If it makes YOU look bad, however, I'm sorry that you've been so brainwashed.

And I did answer your question. I don't speak coon, but I will type slower. The truth...about...black women...and....breastfeeding...rates...has more...to...do...with financial...status...than...lack...of...education. To say...otherwise....is...unfair...to...black...women.

Did that help? Hope so.
At June 27, 2007 11:09 PM, Fat Lady said...: What a great picture. And, not to beat a dead horse, but I love how it shows the complete lack of self-consciousness, on the part of both husband and wife, about the fact that the mother's breast is exposed as she nurses.
At June 27, 2007 11:50 PM, Doulala said...: jennifer,
"Maybe" I'm a kiss ass, Jennifer is Mammy Two Shoes and Jemima, and I speak coon? This is you having an intelligent conversation? Can you put a thought together without resorting to name calling?

Again I'll ask, if JJ's very existence irks you, why do you return to read and comment on her blog?
Is it simply to pick cyber-fights? Never mind, I already know.
At June 28, 2007 12:25 AM, Jennifer said...: Can you put a thought together without resorting to name calling?

I do it every day. Just not with self-loathing coons like Jennifer James - or you.

if JJ's very existence irks you, why do you return to read and comment on her blog?

Because I'm getting a real kick out of her. Her very shock that OMG BLACK WOMEN BREASTFED BACK IN THE DAY!!!! is hilarious. I can't believe how little she knows about anything, yet she has the nerve to call herself an activist for women of color. Besides, women like me are a thorn in the sides of Sapphire here, and that's something she needs.
At June 28, 2007 12:36 AM, tzarina said...: Let's not forget the best part - Ms. James's surprise that a black man isn't all DAAAMN BITCH! GET DAT TITTY OUTTA DAT BABY'S MOUF - DAT'S NASTY!!!!! The loathing is STRONG in this one, my child.

Doulala, do us all a favor and stop concentrating on Ms. Daniels' language and focus on the issues at hand. Do you really think she doesn't understand what she's doing when she calls you a coon? Every time you try to call her on it, you show us all that you have no answer for Jenn's actual points; all you can do is bitch and moan because she uses dirty language. Well, get over it, okay? Street kids tend to use street language, and if it's too delicate for your eyes, you've chosen the wrong thing to advocate. Maybe it's wrong for Jenn to call Jennifer names, but since Jennifer lies about Jenn on a constant basis, all bets are off. One is no better than the other, and if you were half the woman you pretend to be, you'd agree.

Awesome journal entry, Jenn!
At June 28, 2007 12:42 AM, tzarina said...: One other thing. Ms. James started this by calling out Ms. Daniels in her blog, picking and choosing parts of her email to post (apparently Jenn tried to keep this beef between them), calling her "dim-witted" and even going as far as to tell lies about her work at BET (which she still has not apologized for). If the worst Jenn has done in retaliation is call her a Mammy, I think Ms. James has gotten off very light.
At June 28, 2007 8:17 AM, Jennifer James said...: Hi Doulala: Thank you for commenting and for bringing light to what I'm doing! I really appreciate it.

FatLady: Great to hear from you! I love this picture, too!

tzarina: I never knew Jennifer. Search my archives and tell me who started it with me.

Jennifer- I am not surprised that black women breastfed. I am surprised, however, that there are actual documented photos of it. And I am surprised that these women breastfed, even when formula was on the market. That is what scholarly research is all about. You cannot assume anything until you find adequate proof.

Just because breastfeeding, in your mind, is primarily an economic issue it certainly does not mean black women -- rich, poor, or otherwise -- cannot and should not breastfeed their children. It may be harder, but it is in no way impossible. So just because a black mother may be poor, she should not be encouraged solely -- with no other alternative -- to feed her infant formula. In so doing, you discriminate against her based on deep socioeconomic factors and assume that she is not worthy of adequate breastfeeding information and advice.

Let's look at obesity for black women. It is well documented that black women are the most obese in this country. I believe there are several factors at work for this outcome, one of which is economic factors and the ability to afford fresh fruits and vegetables. To illustrate my point I will say this: Should black women be relegated to a life of obesity and poor health simple because of economics? Or, should they also be given adequate nutritional advice and all the help they can get to become fit and healthy?

For me, everyone deserves the same opportunities no matter if a mother works full-time at McDonalds or is a high powered attorney in New York City. You must remember that this is a breastfeeding blog and you will never get an endorsement from me about formula feeding. I will not waver one way or the other. I advocate breastfeeding for black mothers and it is that simple. I believe that if more black mothers breastfed, then there would be healthier black children and healthier black mothers. I did not pull that out of thin air. Research and medicine back my claims. Moms can take the information or leave it.

Additionally, I echo Doulala's point. If you hate me so much and my presence irks you so much, why do you keep coming back? It's a simple question. Really, it is. I have never commented on your blog because it would be a masochistic exercise in futility. In other words, it wouldn't be worth my time.

I am going to try and engage you on an intellectual level for a moment. If it is your claim that black mothers cannot breastfeed due to economics, does that mean you are giving the role of formula manufacturers in the lives of minority infants a pass?
At June 28, 2007 9:08 AM, Anonymous said...: Why are you surprised there's a picture of a black woman breastfeeding? White folks have been exploiting black people's privacy for generations - I'm actually offended at this picture, that some poor sharecropper's wife couldn't breastfeed her own child without some white photographer sticking their nose in and taking pictures so everyone could gawk at the earthy negroes or whatever. You can bet they weren't taking pictures of rich white women's breasts. It's nice that you can see the beauty in this picture, I'm more inclined to see it as exploitation. Did this woman consent to having her picture taken? Do we even know her name? Or did some white "anthropologist" or "journalist" publish her image for white people to look at the po ignant nigras. Are white people's bodies ever treated in the same way?
At June 28, 2007 9:52 AM, Jennifer James said...: anonymous: I can post pictures of poor white women breastfeeding as well. I've run across several, but have opted to post mostly black mothers because of the content of my blog.

During this time rich white women were more inclined to bottle-fed their infants because they were the formula companies' target market.

There are, however, several pictures of white women who breastfed during this time and who were photographed. In fact, I posted one today.
At June 28, 2007 9:55 AM, Anonymous said...: Oh, and my comments stand for the pictures of the poor white women too you posted too. It's sad when women who have been deprived of everything else can even carry on their own lives without some fool with a camera making money off them. I'm sure a Southern Black women, having lived with a history of white terrorism, was totally consenting when the white folks showed up to take her picture. I know I'm going on about this, but it bothers me - what right did these people have to take this picture? Did they pay her? This is all true for the poor white women too, but particularly for a black woman terrorized by white people her entire life.

I don't have a livejournal, so I'm sadly anonymous - thanks for letting me comment in your blog anyway.
At June 28, 2007 9:57 AM, Jennifer said...: You cannot assume anything until you find adequate proof.

Did you honestly think that all these black women were running ar...never mind. You've shown your lack of common sense ad nauseum, so why bother?

Just because breastfeeding, in your mind, is primarily an economic issue...

Well, this is where I stop taking you seriously. *scrolls to the end*

I am going to try and engage you on an intellectual level for a moment.

Don't bother, since I'm not going to extend the same courtesy to you - not here or on my own blog. When I come across people who have no earthly idea what the hell they're talking about, I tend to fall back on mocking.

Why are you surprised there's a picture of a black woman breastfeeding?

Because white folks told her that she was the only black woman in the history of the free world that ever breastfed a child, and she made a career on believing that stupid shit.
At June 28, 2007 10:01 AM, Anonymous said...: re: white women and breastfeeding - let's not forget that it was black women who breastfed white women's children because white ladies were too "delicate" to be able to nurse their children. Black women breastfed the white babies, and then had to nurture their own babies with whatever was left. Given that, it's pretty offensive when white people turn around and start lecturing black women about breastfeeding, like it's some scientific discovery they need to make us hip to. We were the ones feeding their babies!

Anyway, these are thought-provoking pictures in whatever way.
At June 28, 2007 10:08 AM, Jennifer said...: Oh, and Two Shoes?

I have never commented on your blog because it would be a masochistic exercise in futility.

You can't comment in my blog - not unless you have a LiveJournal, so please, let's not pretend you're taking the high road here, as evidenced by your name-calling and lying. At least I own up to my shit. Give it a try sometime.

Anonymous, do you know the shot of the Migrant Mother? The lady was named Florence Owens Thompson, and the photographer (Dorothea Lange) went on to win awards for snapping photos of her that she didn't even have permission to go on and publish. She promised Thompson that she wouldn't sell the pictures and would send her a copy. Naturally, Thompson got no money while Lange got all the glory. With multiple, similar photos, I'd like to think that these women all agreed to have their picture taken, but...with breastfeeding being such a common thing back then, why the heck would it be the subject of some photo gallery?
At June 28, 2007 10:13 AM, Jennifer James said...: anonymous: I already know about wet nurses. I've been through it on my blog and have documented the evidence. But, just as much as slave women and black domestics were wet nurses, they also breastfed their own, and that is what I am interested in.

There is no question the racist history of our past and the horrible conditions that this mother was living under, especially in the south. The fact remains, however, that there are over 160,000 images of American life in the collection where I found this one and they are not only of black people, but of rural white, Mexicans, Chinese and Native Americans also. In fact, I am quite happy that this picture and others like it are waiting to be discovered.

It is only through history that we can learn more about ourselves and better the lives we live today.

Thank you for taking the time to comment. If you'd prefer not to post anonymously, you can choose "other" to include your name.
At June 28, 2007 10:40 AM, Jennifer James said...: Jennifer -- Why don't you answer the main questions?

One: If you hate me and everything I stand for, why do you keep coming back?

Two: What role do the formula companies have in black mothers feeding their children formula?. Do you believe they are the altruistic savors of black babies?

Three: Do you believe poor black mothers deserve to have breastfeeding information and advice, or do you think breastfeeding is only good enough for white women and middle class black mothers?
At June 28, 2007 10:54 AM, Jennifer said...: 1) Because I can. Because you want me to. Because somebody has to stand up to your ignorant, hateful bullshit, and because I'm running a fever and my wireless Game Cube controller is busted. Trust me, when I get bored with you, you'll be old news.

2) What "role"? Formula companies are around to push their product off on ALL women worldwide. Last I checked, black and brown women aren't the people making Mr. Similac rich - white women are! And hell no, formula isn't the savior of black babies, white babies, brown babies or green babies. But neither is breast milk. If that's the case, how come so many breastfed babies overseas are dropping like flies?

3) I believe that every woman should have equal access to information regarding ALL aspects of child rearing, including - BUT NOT LIMITED TO - nourishment. But unlike you, I believe that mothers deserve the right to TRUE information, not the voodoo science and half-information that people like you serve up. And I sure as hell don't believe in painting an entire race of people as ignorant fools just to give myself a little bit of shine, nor do I believe in telling blatant lies about people who have the unmitigated gall to disagree with me.

Was that plain enough for you, Mantan?
At June 28, 2007 12:06 PM, Jennifer James said...: Like I've asked before...Why do you keep coming back? That was a lame answer. You can do better than that, Jennifer. All you're doing is adding to my blog stats when you rant on my blog and link to it, which helps me get more advertising. Thanks. How about those economics?

So, you're trying to tell me that the proven benefits of breastfeeding is voodoo science? Now, I have heard it all!

Since you want to talk about international infant feeding, have you been checking out what's going on in the Philippines right now? Or, have you been checking out individual African countries and their push for increased breastfeeding? Let me guess, they're wrong too.

Are you prepared to say that formula is better than breastfeeding? Because if you are that's news for the formula companies themselves. They don't even dare go that far.
At June 28, 2007 12:37 PM, Jennifer said...: Thanks.

You're welcome! Since I'm obviously doing you a favor, you should have no problems with me being here. In other words? Stop crying. If you want me gone, ban me and be finished with it, but your reverse psychology is weak.

Since you want to talk about international infant feeding

Actually, I don't. Only a sucker would bring up countries from overseas, knowing that the health care systems and access to things like clean water are COMPLETELY different than here in the States. You're predictable, along with hilarious.

Are you prepared to say that formula is better than breastfeeding?

Absolutely never. I've only said about 40 times that breastfeeding is the ideal method of nourishment. Why you continue to insist that I say that formula is ideal is beyond me. Then again, you're a tried, true and proven liar, aren't you?
At June 28, 2007 1:02 PM, Jennifer James said...: I'm not going to ban you because I'm not afraid of dissenting opinions, no matter how far-fetched and laced with baseless insults they are. Banning is not my style. I believe in free speech.

I didn't bring up international infant feeding. You did. Remember?

You said, "If that's the case, how come so many breastfed babies overseas are dropping like flies?".

So, that would make you a what? Sucka?

Your words. Not mine.

Jennifer, it's been a pleasure. However, I have real work to do reaching black mothers. I will not answer you ever again because each time it is both pointless and a waste of valuable time and energy. That is, unless you disguise yourself and I have no idea who you are.

So, with that, I bid you Adieu.
At June 28, 2007 1:54 PM, Jennifer said...: Better to be a sucka than a liar, Slappy. But you're right; I was the one who brought up international feeding first. I'm not like you, though. When I make an error, I own up to it.

And like you, I also have real work to do reaching black mothers. It'll take a lot of work to undo the damage that people like you do to women of color, but I'm up for the challenge.

I'm glad that you're not going to answer me ever again - it would be in your best interest not to, and I think you know that. This isn't the first time I've shut you up on your own turf, but hopefully this will be the last time. But know this: if you continue to tell lies about me, I'll continue to fuck up your universe. That's just the way it is. Don't want me bothering you? Don't make up shit about me. In turn, I'll grant you the same courtesy. If not, well...you'll see.

Cheerio, Geraldine!
At June 28, 2007 5:53 PM, Oneoften said...: I understand some of the difficulties of breastfeeding but I don't understand the "cost of breastfeeding". I grew up one of ten children in a poor neighborhood where we were the poor kids on the block. My mother breastfed everyone of us because if she had gotten formula, it would have cost her much more. She would have needed money to clean bottles (energy costs), bus money to go to the store to get the formula, not to mention time and energy and if you're not getting WIC, the cost of the formula. The choice is not always either breastfeed or formula. Sometimes a good way to work it out is to do both. When work got in the way and I didn't have time to pump, my kids sometimes got formula but I made sure they always got some breastfeeding every day.
At June 28, 2007 7:25 PM, Jennifer said...: Oneoften,

I definitely think that breastfeeding back in the day was a much easier task (if you can call it easy) than it is now, mainly due to the structure of the work environment. I live in an "at will" state, where you can be fired for no reason at all, no questions asked, and I've known women to be fired simply for getting pregnant! And they can't do a thing about it. You miss a shift? You're fired. Never mind that the jobs on the low end of the pay scale (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, etc) may not even make your schedule a full week in advance. I knew a girl who worked at Wal-Mart; their schedules were made three days in advance, and their shifts were all over the place. They had to be on call like they were freaking doctors! When my mother was pregnant back in '81, I don't think she ever feared she would lose her job for it. Six weeks of maternity leave was a bitch, no doubt, but at least she knew she would come back to a job. So you take that factor and add breastfeeding on top of that - something that many employers don't allow the proper time for when it comes to breaks - and you've got an even bigger obstacle, depending on where you live.

Obviously, jobs on the higher end of the scale require more skill; therefore, their workers aren't nearly as dispensable. If you have a mother who has been on a job for years and all she wants is an hour to pump milk for her baby, no reasonable employer is going to make trouble. But in the minimum wage jobs, that woman may be seen as more trouble than she's worth, and since people are hurting so badly for jobs, it's nothing for her to be let go. I'm not offering that as an explanation, only a theory.
At June 29, 2007 6:51 AM, Jennifer James said...: Hi oneoften. You illustrate my point precisely! Simply because any mother may find herself in a poverty situation, it in no way means she has to roll over to poverty itself. Moms are inherently resourceful beings. We can always find a way to give our children optimal health and nutrition despite the obstacles. It's all about taking charge of our own lives and not relenting to a society.

And thank you for sharing your story about using both bottle-feeding and breastfeeding. You are definitely a mom who gets it!
At July 2, 2007 11:10 AM, roslynholcomb said...: Jennifer, I certainly understand the economic argument, but I think its crucial to understand that breastfeeding is endlessly adaptable. People have this idea that its an all or nothing proposition, and nothing could be further from the truth. There are plenty of women who only nurse their children a couple times a day. If, for instance, you're only able to nurse at bedtime, then your supply will adapt to that. Some women only nurse for the nighttime feedings because its convenient, (no heating up bottles in the middle of the night) then use bottles for the child at daycare or at the sitters. Some breast milk is better than no breast milk at all.

From an economic standpoint, breastfeeding makes more sense than bottles because breast milk is free. Especially for those first few weeks when the baby is eating constantly the cost of formula is prohibitive. Even women who use WIC often deal with the problem of having their vouchers run out before the end of the month. I know plenty of women who receive WIC because they have low-end jobs, and they pump and leave the milk with the sitter/daycare. WIC gives out very good pumps, so its certainly not a matter of economics there.
At July 2, 2007 1:04 PM, roslynholcomb said...: I think there are many reasons for lower black breastfeeding rates. I spent most of my career working with young girls and women and many of them became pregnant, so I've dealt with the issue on both sides, so to speak.

I think the main issue is an environmental one, and it cuts across all races. You're less likely to nurse if you've never been around women who nursed. I've said before that my mama was a domestic who fed all six of us Carnation milk with Karo syrup and vitamins added. Had I not been exposed to my SIL who nursed her four kids I doubt it ever would've occurred to me to nurse my own.

We've discussed the economic issue, and I certainly agree that it can have a great impact. There are ways around that, and I've mentioned some of them in my previous post.

There is also the perception that the mother will be tied down to the house all day if she breastfeeds. This is one of the reasons I'm concerned about the brouhaha over public nursing. Breast milk is the ultimate fast food. Always at the right temperature, no muss, no fuss. No carrying bottles around. But for many women, especially a young one the prospect of exposing more than she'd like, or being censured for nursing in public can have a chilling effect.

There is also the reaction of men, and this is another one that cuts across racial lines. I've dealt with a lot of jealous men who have a problem with their partner nursing. Some feel that they're being left out and others are just misogynist jerks who feel their woman's breast is their exclusive territory.

And YES, there are plenty of women, of all races who are STILL ignorant about the benefits of breastfeeding their children. I think its crucial that women at least try to nurse. I think its also important that information be available to those women.

I do think its crucial that any discussion on this topic include the economic factors that may prevent a woman from nursing, as well as tips and tactics to work around that issue.
At February 14, 2008 8:14 AM, Anonymous said...: Hello, I am living in Holland, stumbled upon this blog (i like it :-) ) and then onto this discussion :-(
I found this info:
The medical community deemed this increase particularly significant because the bulk of the increase was among those least likely to breastfeed in recent history—Black women, women educated only through high school, and women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Indeed, breastfeeding habits in the last 30 years have differed according to class and race in a much starker way than they did a century ago. Only one group of women have embraced breastfeeding in large numbers since the early 1970s—White, college-educated women.43 Not only have Black women initiated breastfeeding at roughly half the rate of White women, but the majority of Black women who do breastfeed introduce formula to their infants while still in the hospital.44 The race gap in breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration rates is, in fact, so cavernous that one group of researchers argues that convincing more Black women to breastfeed and to breastfeed longer would narrow the race gap in infant mortality—currently 1.3 times higher for Blacks than Whites—as significantly as preventing low birthweight, once thought to be the primary, if not sole, reason for the high Black infant death rate.45

from this site: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1448139

Here in Holland, there is a division too: we have a large community of "foreign"people, like from Marocco, Turkey, Suriname, etc etc and here too most of the white mamas bf, not too many "dark"mamas :-(
Not only due to working, since a lot of these mothers DO NOT WORK, cannot get out of their homes sometimes, (Islamic families, from poor regions, true believers) so not because of work, also you cannot be fired here "At will".
Wanted to share, that everywhere, more women should know more about the truth about BF and that it is the BEST for the mama and the baby.
Here almost every mama stops at 3/ 6 months. I still bf now, my son is 2 years :-)

Greetings,
Veronique.