There hasn't been a Surgeon Gen. in the US since Dr. Koop who has done as
much for bfg as David Satcher (who for those of you outside the US, is
African American himself).  He commissioned the HHS Blueprint for Action on
Breastfeeding, etc. etc. etc. The speech he gave in Atlanta made exactly the
same points you do, Valerie.  He didn't make the slavery or poverty issues
into excuses, but referred to them as possible explanations of behavior.  He
referred to them as areas for re-education.  He put forth a call for action
to help more African Americans  see bfg as a positive action they can employ
on behalf of the health their children.

 Please consider that dialog and willingness to discuss the emotional and
social undertones of health issues does not make one a traitor to the cause
nor mean that one is not pure enough to have one's bona fides as a bfg
advocate. In fact this awareness (such as the acute observation you make
about upward mobility) helps us all find more effective ways to promote bfg.
We've found here in Texas, for instance, that it isn't all that useful to
point out the cost savings issues in either African American or Hispanic
populations.  They may tend to view their ability to afford formula as a
sign of that upward mobility.  So describing the other health benefits
(protection against cardiovascular disease and diabetes in particular)
become more important issues to bring forward.

Further, the historical perspective is not meant to ascribe class or racial
guilt so much as to impart information to people who may have no information
about these issues and thus cannot be as sensitive as they might otherwise
be in understanding the other person's point of view.  Such understanding by
no means requires acceptance of that point of view. I simply find I do
better as a persuasive agent for change when I can bring some kind of
sensitivity and awareness into my interactions with others.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

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