Being a new mom can feel really overwhelming to anyone. But for women of color, there’s a whole other level of stress that stems from systemic racism in our society—and more specifically, in our healthcare system.
that 85 percent of white women have ever breastfed, versus 69 percent of Black women. This disparity actually goes back to when, during slavery, Black women were actually stopped from breastfeeding their own children and forced to feed the children of their white slaveowners.
That’s why Kimberly founded Black Breastfeeding Week. In her words, “Black Breastfeeding Week is an important time for us to really celebrate what Black breastfeeding means. We really talk about Black breastfeeding as social justice, as a way of reclaiming the narrative about Black women not being good mothers. It is all about lifting up those stories.” Learn more about Black Breastfeeding Week3. COVID-19 has magnified the effects of pre-existing barriers to breastfeeding.
The pandemic, as you might know, has tragically exposed the impact of racial inequities in health. Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by the virus—compared to their white counterparts, nearlyCOVID-19 has also caused the disruption or discontinuation of evidence-based interventions for Black breastfeeding support, such as peer-led support and community-based interventions.
What can you do to help? Take time to learn even more about these racial disparities in healthcare, and amplify resources to spread the word. Here are some great resources you can share:
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
It’s Not Too Early to Get a Flu ShotYou should definitely get the flu shot before October
Read more »
Your Guide to Hyaluronic Acid and How It Benefits Your SkinExperts explain why the skin-care ingredient is so important.
Read more »
Why Exercising During Coronavirus Is More Important Than Ever for Your Mental HealthLess exercise and more screens may lead to higher depressive symptoms, a preliminary study finds.
Read more »
Am I Going to Write About Murdered Black People Forever?It’s becoming increasingly difficult to fight the sense that, for the rest of my life, I’ll be writing about black Americans who’ve been killed, in one way or another, by the police.
Read more »
Taylor Swift Just Donated $30,000 to Fund a Student's College Education“I am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality.”
Read more »
Women of Color in the DC Universe Talk Casting Backlash and Importance of RepresentationDuring the DC FanDome virtual event, women of color in the DC universe gathered to discuss their experiences in their roles and why representation is so important and impactful in today’s wor…
Read more »