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

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The genesis of anti-breastfeeding culture
Tuesday, July 3, 2007

In the past seventy to one hundred years, mothers of all races have been ceaselessly assaulted by companies whose only mission is to convince more and more mothers to feed their babies artificially. Here, however, in this 1912 photo (below) taken by George B. Petty, you see the wonderful bond between mother, father and baby around one of the naturalist practices - breastfeeding.

But because of pictures like this one (below) of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Romano feeding their baby in New York City in December 1942, American mothers began to believe infant formula was the "substance for sophisticates". Formula companies and their cunning advertising agencies created a prestige around feeding one's infant formula. That is why they pedaled it to the privileged first. They knew everyone else would anxiously follow suit. After all, in our consumer driven culture that was and still is obsessed with wealth, most of us want precisely what the prosperous have and do exactly what the rich do, including feed our babies infant formula. The formula companies knew this well.

And so by the 1950s, if a mother decided to breastfeed, it became a practice to be shared solely between mother and baby. Notice the partition between the family. I'd like to introduce you to Hilda Kassell nursing her baby, E. 53rd St., New York City. This photograph (also below) was taken by Gottscho Schleisner on July 12, 1950.

What an easily swayed people we are. I am extremely grateful to the wave of not-so-easily-swayed mothers who launched a counterattack against the formula companies. I hope, as a breastfeeding advocate, I am upholding the tradition well.

Labels: breastfeeding history

posted by Jennifer James @ 11:19 AM,

7 Comments:

At July 3, 2007 10:57 PM, mAsOn & tErrI's mOm said...: I love the top photo!!! I would have took that partition and "accidentally" knock it upside of his head!!
At August 4, 2007 8:59 AM, Jenny W said...: what a cool blog! i'm new here, never visited you b4, but i love history and i nursed my babies so what more do i need?! very cool pictures, and commentary on how weird we are as consumers:)
At August 4, 2007 11:33 PM, Elizabeth F. said...: SaraFu is my SIL, not that she commented here on this post, but I see that you guys are becomign blogging buddies...and Jenny W. above is one of my best friends. We all love ya and what you are doing here.

That last picture is so hilarious.
At August 18, 2007 2:01 AM, Liane said...: This is my first visit to your blog. I love it! I am so proud of you! I am sure you are making a difference. I have been counseling pregnant and nursing women for 25 years. I live in Georgia and have been very frustrated when trying to convince black women to nurse. I haven't been able to figure out why many just refuse to even consider it. It has only been in the last five years or so that I have begun to see a change in that -- and usually only with women who are well-educated.
Have you found anything in your research to indicate the reason could have to do with the fact that many slave women were forced to wet nurse the master's children during slavery times? Could this be part of the cultural influence behind this?
I look forward to visiting your site again soon. I am eager to share your perspective.
At August 18, 2007 7:55 AM, Jennifer James said...: Hi Liane,

Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you enjoy my blog.

Wet nursing definitely has influenced breastfeeding among black women today. But I've also found evidence that black slave women were able to nurse their own children, albeit under stressful situations. They were called "sucklers". It's my belief that the big shift came during the 1930s and 40s.
At November 16, 2007 11:08 AM, ShayShay said...: Fascinating!
At February 9, 2008 6:00 PM, r said...: in the first picture (1912) it looks as though the father may be giving the baby a bottle. if you look near the baby's mouth it almost looks like there is a nipple from a bottle. any ideal?