It was World Breastfeeding Week on 1-7th August 2016.
Have your heard about Black Breastfeeding Week, 25th-31st August 2016?
I support, teach and promote breastfeeding for everyone of every race, culture and background. When I stumble on Black Breastfeeding Week, I thought to myself, OK! this is a statement, how does other races feel about this, do they think that Black Breastfeeding Week is a form of discrimination. This made me want to find out more.
During my research I found an article written by Kimberly Seals Allers detailing reasons why Black Breastfeeding Week was created. Kimberly explained, for over 40 years there has been a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. She highlighted data, that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus 58.9% of black women. Kimberly states “having the facts of this racial disparity in initiation and even bigger one for duration has lingered for so long, is a reason enough to take 7 days to focus on the issue.
And there was more, Kimberly had a list of reasons why Black Breastfeeding Week was created ;
1. The high black infant mortality rate
2. High rates of diet-related disease
3. Lack of diversity in lactation field
4. Unique cultural barriers among black women
5. Desert-Like Conditions in Our Communities
This was an eye opener for me, as I have not gained such detailed information around the subject of black women breastfeeding.
I came to learn that ‘Black Breastfeeding Week’ was not created to discriminating against other races but was created to bring awareness to society.
Read full article by Kimbely Seals Allers – Top Five Reasons Why We Need Black Breastfeeding Week.
Is there Asian Breastfeeding Week? ………It would be nice to know about other races and breastfeeding rates, if you have any information or links please share.
Have you learnt something new or was you already aware of Black Breastfeeding Week and what it stands for? Let us know
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