Gorgeous Black Mothers Breastfeeding Photos

Publish date: 2024-09-28

Breastfeeders are badasses, period — and that’s true no matter their skin color. But Black breastfeeders face particular stigmas, difficulties, and lack of access to the care and conversations that are so crucial in supporting this method that so many of us parents use to feed our babies. (By the way, if you choose to feed your baby formula also/instead, you’re a badass too.) And that’s why Black Breastfeeding Week, which begins today, is so important — and why publicly showcasing photos of Black mothers breastfeeding is so revolutionary.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Jenna Dewan attends Variety's Power of Women presented by Lifetime at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on September 28, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)

“Ultimately, the objectification and devaluing of Black women’s bodies and the discrediting of our experiences as women, moms and even people, is deeply rooted in racism and socioeconomic inequality,” Thai Randolph, who co-created Black motherhood lifestyle brand Sugaberry along with Mixed-ish and Gossip Girl actor Tika Sumpter, tells SheKnows. “For many women in our community, breastfeeding is either viewed as a luxury that busy working moms can’t afford — or a stigma that we no longer want to embrace. There are also centuries-old stereotypes of Black women and our bodies portrayed as objects for others — for pleasure or service — that creates loaded context. But the truth is, it’s our natural right, and it’s time to reclaim that right and rewrite the narrative around Black women and breastfeeding.”

And Sumpter agrees, telling SheKnows that she and Randolph were inspired to create not only Sugaberry but also Milk & Suga, an action summit to honor Black Breastfeeding Week. “Because of the history of our country,” Sumpter explains, “we’ve been sexualized — we were literally wet nurses for white women’s babies. I think when we show pictures of us actually breastfeeding our own babies, society throws its own shame on Black women. It’s as if being delicate and providing natural nutrients for babies is only synonymous with white women. It’s our right over our bodies to do what we want with them. It’s revolutionary to breastfeed and unload that shame which was never ours to bear.”

In support of that very revolution, the women of Milk & Suga have come together to share 27 powerful, peaceful, beautiful, and badass portraits (by photographer DeWayne Rogers) of Black mothers breastfeeding, in the collection ahead.

An intimate moment
“Milk & Suga is a showcase in celebrating significant joys of Black motherhood,” Sumpter tells SheKnows.
Embodying pleasure
“When I discovered I’d be a mom, I didn’t see spaces where we existed to embody the pleasures of this journey,” Sumpter adds. “Milk & Suga Summit is carving out a space I wish I saw back then.”
We deserve sweetness
“We are not made up of only our pain and trauma; we need and deserve sweetness,” Sumpter explains.
Mother and son
They’re dressed in their best — for breastfeeding, naturally.
Closing the gap
“There is a significant disparity in the rate at which Black mothers and White mothers breastfeed,” Randolph tells SheKnows. “That gap is not driven by a mere matter of preference, but rather is the byproduct of complex chasms in access to healthcare, representation, and societal support that marginalizes Black moms and their babies during what’s supposed to be a special time in the mother/child development journey.”
True beauty
The little hand reaching up to his mama is so precious.
Examining the difficulties
“As a mom who faced challenges breastfeeding (and out of frustration ultimately stopped trying after four weeks), it was hard for me to find a supportive lactation specialist who I identified with, and I wasn’t aware of all the resources available to me during that time,” Randolph explains.
Tiny dancer
This little one is practically doing a tour-jete mid-snack.
All about options
“I’m so thrilled to create a space where Black women can be supported, celebrated and guided through their options to nourish their babies,” says Randolph.
Lounging loves
Sometimes, you just gotta lie down.
The exhaustion is real
“I breastfed for three months,” says Sumpter. “My milk didn’t come in as much as I would have wanted, and my daughter Ella was a greedy eater! I was also exhausted. I quit. I truly wish I knew of a community to encourage me to press on.”
Just the two of us
Natural hair and sunlight make the perfect composition.
A mother’s choice
“I wish I had a Milk and Suga summit like Sugaberry’s to engage with,” says Sumpter of her own early breastfeeding days. “But at the end of the day, it was my choice to move on [from breastfeeding].”
Locking eyes
This breastfeeding baby knows she’s on camera.
A “blanket of love”
“That’s all we want for Black women,” Sumpter adds. “We want them to know that they have options. And we want it done with a blanket of love.”
Perfect and powerful
Why not sit straight up for mealtime?
You are not alone
“A big part of this is sharing our stories and creating forums to discuss, amplify and address our unique experiences,” Randolph says of the impetus behind the Milk & Suga summit.
Liquid gold
They call breastmilk that for a reason.
Black doctors matter
“It’s also incredibly important to have more representation in the medical fields,” says Randolph of the need for more Black doctors. “I have to believe when doctors are treating patients in whom they can see their mother, sister, aunt, or friend, they are more empathetic and attentive.”
In mama’s arms
Those baby-arm wrist rolls!
Busting the myths
In addition to calling for increased representation, Black breastfeeding will benefit from myth-busting and breaking away from stereotypes, Randolph explains: “We have to undo stereotypes that suggest Black women are stronger, have higher pain thresholds, etc.”
Fed is best
And breastfeeding sure is beautiful.
A space of caring
“At Sugaberry, a major part of our mission is carving out safe, sweet, soft spaces for Black moms and women,” says Randolph. “We don’t just exist in the service of others. At Sugaberry, our #1 priority is caring for Black Moms.”
Black mothers matter
When asked how we can fight systemic racism in healthcare, Sumpter replies, “I think there are layers to it… Congresswoman Underwood out of Chicago and VP nominee Kamala Harris are both authors of the Momnibus bill, which will systematically help fight racism that has literally killed Black mothers.”
Racism was a pandemic first
Sumpter adds that tackling racism in healthcare “includes providing doulas, re-educating medical workers and pouring resources into non-profit organizations that are on the ground doing the actual work of providing resources for women of color.”
A daily love letter
The Sugaberry founders add that their mission is “to serve as a daily love letter to Black and brown moms everywhere.”
You deserve it
“We’re here to inform, inspire, and indulge you through providing resources, content and commerce,” Randolph and Sumpter assure Black mothers everywhere. Because, “we deserve it as much as anyone else.”