Breast/chestfeeding advocacy in the past has primarily been white-female led. The goal of Black Breastfeeding Week is to celebrate breast/chestfeeding in Black communities and advocate for culturally appropriate support for Black parents. Read BBW’s article, Top Five Reasons Why We Need a Black Breastfeeding Week, for a more in-depth background on the origins of the week.

This year’s theme — Listen Up! Reclaiming Our Narrative & Centering Our Stories for Breastfeeding Justice — was developed as a response to the high black infant mortality rate, the lack of diversity in the lactation field, and unique cultural barriers among Black women, and shines a lot on efforts and initiatives that support breastfeeding among Black families.

For additional resources, visit:

• New Haven Breast/Chestfeeding Task Force

• New Haven Healthy Start

• Real Dads Forever

• Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care and Beyond

• Black Women Do Breastfeed

• Cinnamoms

• Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)

• Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE)

For more information about Black Breastfeeding Week itself, visit their website!