August 25-31, 2022: Black Breastfeeding Week

WHEREAS, we recognize that this marks the tenth year of the designation of August 25-31 as Black Breastfeeding Week; and,

WHEREAS, the 2022 Black Breastfeeding Week theme, “10 Years: A New Foundation”, celebrates the countless stories of Black families - past, present, and future; and,

WHEREAS, this theme honors that the new foundation of lactation support is built on racial equity, cultural empowerment, and community engagement; and,

WHEREAS, this theme is powered by the collective resilience of Black communities; and,

WHEREAS, Black residents of Michigan have been disproportionately impacted by the infant formula shortage; and,

WHEREAS, Black infants have the highest infant death rate compared to other races and ethnicities in Michigan and higher than internationally-recognized norms; and,

WHEREAS, these high rates of infant death have been attributed to infants being born too small, too early, and too sick. Too many infants are susceptible to viruses and infections that can put them at an even greater risk of death. An appropriate intervention to prevent some of these deaths is through breastfeeding and human milk feeding; and,

WHEREAS, we are committed to making birth and motherhood safer through respectful government and community relations to reduce and prevent inequities experienced by Black mothers and babies; and,

WHEREAS, breastfeeding provides countless benefits to the nursing infant including easy digestion, production of antibodies, and reduced risk of infections and childhood obesity, and to the breastfeeding mother, including faster recovery from birth, saving money, and reduced risk for postpartum hemorrhage and breast and uterine cancers; and,

WHEREAS, Black residents are at risk for high rates of obesity and other nutrition-related conditions due to the lack of access to healthy food, health care and other essential determinants of health in the communities where Black babies live; and,

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for a targeted and accelerated approach to improve Black breastfeeding rates so that these rates begin to meet the national benchmarks set forth by Healthy People 2030; and,

WHEREAS, we recognize that systemic and institutional racism create greater barriers for Black parents committed to meeting breastfeeding guidelines set out by public health officials; and,

WHEREAS, Black families face unique cultural barriers, misinformation, gaps in support, lack of diversity in the lactation field and insufficient promotional effort about said benefits; and,

WHEREAS, during this week we are dedicated to broadening the public’s understanding of the critical impact that breastfeeding has on improving the health of infants, mothers and birthing people and reducing infant mortality rates within the Black community; and,

WHEREAS, here in Michigan, we are committed to disrupting racism to celebrate, honor, respect and protect Black motherhood and breastfeeding;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim August 25-31, 2022, as Black Breastfeeding Week in Michigan.