With her permission, comments (since deleted) from Facebook Lactnet are
posted here on "Real Lactnet," asking USA members who are women of color to
stop using, in breastfeeding memes, a photograph taken in 1910 in Adana,
Turkey of "a paid wet-nurse for a French family."  Use of this photograph
"in memes about slavery and wet-nursing [is] like shooting your own foot"
because the depicted woman is not, in fact, African-American.  Or,
presumably, a slave.

I will gently suggest that, unless one self-identifies with the group whose
culture and history of oppression is being discussed, then one is not in
the position to correct perceived misleading image uses in social media
advocacy postings.

"[I]ncreasing awareness about the role of historical contexts and dominant
narratives in interpreting data and information about different racial and
ethnic groups, framing messages for different social and political
outcomes, and readying people to institutionalize practices, policies, and
partnerships that advance racial and health equity" is what this is all
about.

The quote is from a timely July 2016 report of the National Academies of
Sciences, "Framing the Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity to Advance Health
Equity: Proceedings of a Workshop." One can download the full pre-publication
copy at http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2016/Framing-the-Dialogue
-on-Race-and-Ethnicity-to-Advance-Health-Equity-Proceedings-of-Workshop.aspx.


I commend it to everyone on Lactnet, regardless of country of origin, or
self-identification.

And I am mindful of IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct 6.3, newly-enacted
in September 2015: "Every IBCLC shall ... Treat all clients equitably
without regard to ability/disability, gender identity, sexual orientation,
sex, ethnicity, race, national origin, political persuasion, marital
status, geographic location, religion, socioeconomic status, age, within
the legal framework of the respective geo-political region or setting."

Institutional racism, oppression, and classism creates health disparities,
and the epidemiologists have shown this to us -- for populations all over
the world -- time-and-time again.  It is incumbent upon us as IBCLCs,
anyone else working with breastfeeding families, and humans, to do the work
of learning this history.  Especially when we live and work with unearned
privilege.

Hence I also commend to everyone on Lactnet, regardless of country of
origin, or self identification a rich resource: Curriculum for White
Americans to EducateThemselves on Race and Racism - From Ferguson to
Charleston. Please do NOT let the seemingly-USA-only focus deter you from
self-education and expanded self-awareness.
http://citizenshipandsocialjustice.com/2015/07/10/curriculum-for-white-
americans-to-educate-themselves-on-race-and-racism/

-- 
Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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