tiara@totalmaternalsupport.com
Black Breastfeeding Week is Coming...
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The big day may have come and gone, but keep in touch as we’re always up to something new and exciting.
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
Centering Black Women Breastfeeding with Joy & Pride
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at tiara@totalmaternalsupport.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Black Breastfeeding Week, which takes place every year from August 25-31, is not discriminatory. It's a targeted initiative created to address a specific and deeply rooted health disparity. To understand why it's necessary, one must look at the history of Black women in America and the profound trauma and systemic barriers that have impacted their relationship with breastfeeding.
A History of Harm and Trauma
The low rates of breastfeeding among Black women today are not a coincidence or a matter of choice alone. They are a direct legacy of centuries of systemic oppression:
- The "Wet Nurse" Legacy: During slavery, Black women were routinely forced to serve as wet nurses for the children of their white enslavers. They were often separated from their own infants, who were denied the life-giving benefits of their mother's milk and were instead fed less nutritious substances, leading to higher infant mortality rates. This act stripped Black mothers of their autonomy and the sacred bond of nurturing their own child, creating a multigenerational trauma that has impacted how Black communities view breastfeeding. The image of the "mammy" figure, who selflessly nurtures white children while her own go without, is a painful stereotype rooted in this history.
- Targeted Marketing of Formula: Following the end of slavery and into the 20th century, as infant formula became available, formula companies aggressively targeted Black communities. They marketed formula as a modern, sophisticated choice, preying on the desire to move away from the traumatic history of wet nursing and the "mammy" stereotype. This further normalized formula feeding and contributed to the decline of breastfeeding in Black communities.
- Systemic Healthcare and Social Barriers: Even today, Black mothers face significant barriers within the healthcare system. They are more likely to receive less breastfeeding education and support from healthcare providers, and hospitals in predominantly Black communities are less likely to promote breastfeeding. Additionally, Black women are disproportionately employed in low-wage jobs that offer little to no paid maternity leave or adequate space and time for pumping, making it incredibly difficult to sustain breastfeeding after returning to work.
A Matter of Equity, Not Discrimination
Black Breastfeeding Week exists to address these specific historical and contemporary challenges. It is a time to:
- Increase Visibility: To counteract the lack of representation of Black women in mainstream breastfeeding images and media.
- Provide Culturally Competent Support: To create safe spaces and provide resources that acknowledge the unique historical and social context of Black motherhood.
- Empower a Community: To celebrate Black mothers and their journey, reclaim a narrative that was stolen, and highlight the immense health benefits breastfeeding provides, which are especially crucial for a community that faces disproportionately high rates of infant mortality and chronic diseases.
By focusing on the specific needs of Black mothers, Black Breastfeeding Week seeks to correct a historical injustice and build a more equitable future where every mother, regardless of her race or history, has the information, support, and choice to breastfeed if she desires. It is not about excluding others, but about uplifting a community that has been systemically left behind.
Why is the photoshoot centered on breastfeeding, and why are photos so important?
This photoshoot is centered on breastfeeding because we are using the power of photography to create a new, positive visual narrative. Photos are incredibly important because they are more than just images—they are a tangible link to our past, a way to connect with others, and a powerful tool for self-expression.
For a long time, the public perception of breastfeeding, especially within the Black community, has been shaped by a history of trauma and systemic harm. We are actively working to change that narrative by capturing and celebrating the beauty, power, and intimacy of this journey.
- Reclaiming Our Narrative: Black women were historically denied the right to nurture their own children, often forced to serve as "wet nurses" for others. This painful legacy, along with decades of aggressive formula marketing, has contributed to a deep-seated disconnect with breastfeeding. By taking these photos, we are reclaiming our bodies and our motherhood, creating a new story rooted in empowerment and nourishment.
- Normalizing Through Visibility: When we don't see ourselves represented in positive ways, it can make us feel isolated. These photos are about increasing the visibility of Black mothers breastfeeding in a positive, beautiful light. The simple act of capturing a mother at peace with her child helps to normalize and de-stigmatize breastfeeding for our community and for the world at large.
- Creating a Legacy for Future Generations: Our memories can fade, but a photograph freezes a moment in time, allowing us to revisit it years later. By documenting this journey, we are not only preserving a beautiful memory for ourselves, but we are also creating a powerful legacy for our children and their children. These photos will stand as a testament to our strength, love, and resilience, providing a visual record of an empowered motherhood that future generations can be proud of.
In essence, this photoshoot is not just about taking a picture; it's about healing, empowering, and celebrating a beautiful journey. We are using photography to combat historical trauma, create a new vision for our community, and show the world the beauty and power of a mother's love.
No! The photoshoot, does NOT cost. The promotional priced mini session however, does cost if you decide you want headshots or family photos or prints of the shots from the photoshoot and that money goes to the photographer.
In North Carolina, the law is very clear onNo, you cannot be charged with indecent exposure for breastfeeding in public.
North Carolina law states that a "woman may breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding." This legal protection explicitly exempts breastfeeding from the state's indecent exposure laws. This applies to any public or private location where a mother has the right to be, such as parks, restaurants, stores, and more. In North Carolina, the law is very clear on this. No, you cannot be charged with indecent exposure for breastfeeding in public.
North Carolina law states that a "woman may breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding." This legal protection explicitly exempts breastfeeding from the state's indecent exposure laws. This applies to any public or private location where a mother has the right to be, such as parks, restaurants, stores, and more. In North Carolina, the law is very clear on this. No, you cannot be charged with indecent exposure for breastfeeding in public.
North Carolina law states that a "woman may breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding." This legal protection explicitly exempts breastfeeding from the state's indecent exposure laws. This applies to any public or private location where a mother has the right to be, such as parks, restaurants, stores, and more. In North Carolina, the law is very clear on this. No, you cannot be charged with indecent exposure for breastfeeding in public.
North Carolina law states that a "woman may breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding." This legal protection explicitly exempts breastfeeding from the state's indecent exposure laws. This applies to any public or private location where a mother has the right to be, such as parks, restaurants, stores, and more.
Service Areas
The Piedmont Triad of NC and select surrounding areas!
Cities: Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Kernersville, Thomasville, AND Salisbury
Counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin
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