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 — We Outside! — celebrates connection and community, sharing breast/chestfeeding and parenting experiences within the Black community.

The primary goals of Black Breastfeeding Week are:

• Honoring the historical context of infant feeding in Black communities,

• Affirming the experiences of Black women and their children,

• Acknowledging existing birth and breast/chestfeeding disparities in Black communities,

• Addressing the lack of accessible and affordable care, education, and resources that are culturally sensitive and relevant to Black communities.

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!