by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 27, 2025

NOT PRESSED: Deion Sanders On Shilo’s Tampa Bay Release, ‘He’s Gonnna Be Straight’

'Shilo's a man of many talents'

After being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shilo Sanders will be good, according to his NFL Hall of Fame father and football coach, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, as he assures the media that there are plans in place if he does not get on another NFL team.

At a recent press conference, Coach Prime addressed Shilo’s release, which occurred shortly before NFL teams were required to reduce their roster size to 53 players. Although the Buccaneers were impressed with Shilo’s abilities, he was released after getting into a fight in his last preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 23. This seemingly was the reason, as Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles alluded to the fight during the game when discussing the newly cut athlete.

Coach Prime told the media that he has spoken to his son and that, although he is currently a free agent without a team, he will be good. But he is definitely hoping Shilo gets another chance with another franchise.

“Oh, most definitely [I’ve talked to him],” Sanders said. “He’s my son. I’m proud of my kids, all of them. And I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports. That’s part of fathering, that’s part of parenting, that’s part of having a relationship. So he is mentally where he needs to be, physically where he needs to be. We’re praying that he gets another opportunity to go with a team, but if he doesn’t, the plans have already been put forward to what he’s going to do next.”

The Colorado Buffaloes head coach assured everyone that even if Shilo is not given another opportunity, he’s “gonna be straight” as his son is a “man of many talents.” So, no concern whether Shilo will be down for some time.

“Shilo’s a man of many talents. I don’t know if you guys know, he’s a man of many talents. He’s gonna be straight. All the Sanders are gonna be straight, with or without football. You better believe that.”

Deion Sanders said he is proud of his son Shilo Sanders — who was most recently cut by the Bucs — and of all of his children. He said they’re hoping for another NFL opportunity, but if one doesn’t come, they’ve got a plan. He said, “Shilo’s a man of many talents.” pic.twitter.com/T2aw3N10nB
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 26, 2025

Deion Sanders And Blenders Eyewear Continue To Change the Game With The New PRIME21 Launch

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 27, 2025

Deion Sanders And Blenders Eyewear Continue To Change the Game With The New PRIME21 Launch

Deion Sanders has never been one to play small.

Deion Sanders has never been one to play small. Known to the world as “Coach Prime,” the Hall of Famer, two-sport legend, and current head coach of Colorado football has built a legacy around excellence, style, and staying unapologetically true to himself. That same energy is fueling his latest collaboration with Blenders Eyewear: the release of the new PRIME21 Kingpin sunglasses.

Following the success of their first partnership, Sanders and Blenders are back with a new drop that’s already generating excitement among fans, athletes, and eyewear lovers. The PRIME21 Kingpin sunglasses reflect Sanders’ signature flair: bold, versatile, and built for people who want to stand out both on and off the field. Centered around the powerful message, “Every Day is Gameday,” the campaign rallies fans to embrace their own “prime” mindset, taking the intensity and excitement of gameday into everyday life.

“When you put these Blenders shades on, you’re STEPPING INTO YOUR PRIME,” said Sanders. “It’s about swagger, and showing up ready to win, wherever life takes you. These aren’t just sunglasses… they’re a STATEMENT. Every day, we’re shining, and it AIN’T HARD 2 FIND.”

The launch comes at a pivotal moment in Sanders’ coaching career. Since taking over at Colorado, he has captured national attention by reinvigorating the program, inspiring his players, and proving that his impact goes far beyond the gridiron. His commitment to excellence and authenticity aligns seamlessly with Blenders’ mission of designing eyewear that empowers self-expression.

Blenders Eyewear, founded in San Diego by Chase Fisher, has built its reputation on disrupting the eyewear industry with high-quality products that define today’s culture. Collaborations with athletes and tastemakers like Sanders have helped the brand grow into one of the fastest-rising players in the lifestyle and sports space.

“This partnership with Coach Prime is about more than eyewear. It’s about shifting culture and building something that makes people feel bold every time they put it on,” said Blenders Eyewear Founder Chase Fisher. “From the beginning, we weren’t chasing hype. We were creating something that lives at the intersection of sport, style, and self-belief. It’s become bigger than sunglasses. It’s culture. It’s confidence. And Season 3 is all about inviting more people into the movement.”

The success of the initial PRIME21 collection set the stage for this follow-up, exceeding sales expectations and generating widespread media attention. From social media buzz to consumer demand, fans quickly embraced the shades, making them a must-have for both sports enthusiasts and students alike. The collaboration not only strengthened Blenders’ presence in the lifestyle and sports markets but also reinforced Sanders’ reputation as a cultural icon whose influence transcends the field. This proven chemistry between Sanders and Blenders makes the PRIME21 launch a highly anticipated moment with built-in momentum and fan enthusiasm.

For Sanders, PRIME21 is more than a collaboration; it’s a continuation of his larger mission: to inspire people to embrace their greatness without compromise. The new Blenders x PRIME21 Kingpin sunglasses (priced at $89) are available for purchase now on blenderseyewear.com or in Blenders stores near you.

by Black Enterprise

August 27, 2025

Ansylla Ramsey Releases Crypto Investment Book For Black Women Over 40

The author brings authenticity, credibility, and cultural relevance to the ﬁeld

Ansylla Ramsey, a seasoned educator and crypto coach, has officially become the first African American woman to write a book that simplifies cryptocurrency investing specifically for women over 40, with a bold focus on centering the unique voices, experiences, and goals of Black women.

Her new release, Crypto Conﬁdent Over 40: The Smart Woman’s Playbook for Investing on Her Own Terms (Without Trading!), is more than a guide; it’s a movement.

At a time when retirement planning is critical, but traditional paths feel outdated or out of reach, Crypto Conﬁdent Over 40 offers a clear, jargon-free roadmap for how women can leverage digital assets to build wealth, secure their future, and invest with conﬁdence without having to day-trade or gamble.

“I created this book because so many women — especially Black women in midlife — have been left out of the crypto conversation,” says Ramsey. “We deserve trusted, relatable guidance. We deserve options that match our values and lifestyle. And we deserve to understand the future of ﬁnance without being overwhelmed or intimidated.”

Ramsey’s teaching style — described by readers as “warm, no-nonsense clarity” — breaks down complex topics with ease, offering step-by-step strategies for building a crypto portfolio that aligns with each reader’s personal risk level, life goals, and ﬁnancial vision. Her work is rooted in empowerment, not hype.

With over seven years of experience guiding women through the crypto space with simplicity, safety, and clarity, Ramsey brings authenticity, credibility, and cultural relevance to a ﬁeld too often dominated by tech bros and fear-based headlines.

A Much-Needed Voice in the Retirement & Investment Space

Black women over 40 are navigating new ﬁnancial terrain — whether rebuilding after divorce, preparing to care for aging parents, or reimagining retirement outside the traditional 9-to-5 grind. Crypto Conﬁdent Over 40 is the ﬁrst book of its kind to speak directly to that demographic with compassion, clarity, and cultural context.

Upcoming Events & Media Availability

Ramsey is available for interviews, podcasts, panels, and speaking engagements related to:

• Financial freedom for Black women over 40
• Retirement reinvention in the age of crypto
• Women-centered wealth building with digital assets
• Navigating Web3 with conﬁdence and clarity

She also hosts events as part of her Crypto Conﬁdent Over 40 Society, an online membership community offering education, sisterhood, and support for women ready to build their next chapter in life and in wealth.

About the Author
Ansylla Ramsey is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience, a crypto coach, educator, speaker, and two-time author who has helped countless women step boldly into the digital asset space since 2018. She is the founder of Crypto Conﬁdent Over 40, a platform dedicated to simplifying crypto for women who want to take control of their ﬁnancial future without fear, ﬂuff, or FOMO. Ansylla also developed a Web3 curriculum for grades 6–8, currently featured on a homeschool platform, further demonstrating her passion for accessible, age-appropriate crypto education across generations.

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by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 27, 2025

Ice Cube Is Having A ‘Goodyear,’ Kicks Off ‘Truth To Power’ To In Partnership With The Blimp

The Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude tour opens in Brooklyn Sept. 4

N.W.A. member Ice Cube has connected with the Goodyear Blimp, as both entities will do a lot of celebrating this upcoming year, as the partnership kicked off Aug. 24 in Orlando during the BIG3 Championship.

This is the Goodyear Blimp’s 100th anniversary, and Ice Cube is on his first headlining tour in over a decade. Both icons are remembered for different things, but will celebrate together as Goodyear has signed on as a partner for the Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude tour.

Turning a Good Day into a Goodyear ⁦@goodyear⁩ ⁦@GoodyearBlimp⁩ pic.twitter.com/iLkPgsydCa
— Ice Cube (@icecube) August 23, 2025

“From the beginning, I always thought you had to dream big if you really wanted to make it big. The idea of the Goodyear Blimp championing my name was a metaphor for the sky being the limit, yet here we are with Goodyear as a partner and the blimp flying in the Orlando skies, saying, ‘Ice Cube’s a Pimp!’,” said Ice Cube in a written statement. “I’m honored to have Goodyear sponsoring my Truth to Power tour, where we will take people through a musical journey over my four-decade career.”

Goodyear and Ice Cube have been together since he stated these lyrics in 1993, “Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp and it read, ‘Ice Cube’s a Pimp.’

Now that the BIG3 season is over, after the Miami 305 defeated the Chicago Triplets, Cube will set his sights across the country when he heads out on tour. The “Amerikka’s Most Wanted” emcee will be hanging with the Goodyear Blimp overhead during his performances in September and October, while he visits Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Cleveland. Fans will notice the aircraft when arriving at the concert.

“When Ice Cube referenced the Goodyear Blimp in his iconic song, it became part of music history and made a cultural impact,” said Doug Grassian, Vice President, Global External Communications, Social Media and Partnerships, at Goodyear. “Aligning together for his upcoming tour feels like we are bringing that lyric to life, both literally and figuratively, for fans across generations.”

The Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude tour starts Sept. 4 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. For any information, follow @GoodyearBlimp and @IceCube on social media.

George Mason University President Refuses To Apologize For The School’s Diversity Efforts

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 27, 2025

George Mason University President Refuses To Apologize For The School’s Diversity Efforts

Gregory Washington is defending George Mason Univeristy's diversity efforts despite pressure from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Gregory Washington, the first Black president of George Mason University, is refusing to issue a forced apology for the school’s diversity initiatives, despite a call from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to do so.

Washington is defending the university’s diversity efforts, backed by faculty, one week after OCR concluded an investigation accusing him and George Mason University of unlawful race-based hiring and violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Chronicle reports. OCR’s proposed resolution included a demand that Washington personally apologize to the campus community for the diversity initiatives he oversaw, but Washington says that’s not going to happen.

“It is glaringly apparent that the OCR investigation process has been cut short, and ‘findings’ have been made in spite of a very incomplete fact-finding process, including only two interviews with university academic deans,” Washington’s lawyer, Douglas F. Gansler, wrote in a response letter.

“For OCR to single out GMU for alleged discriminatory conduct — when it admits more than 90% of its student applicants, has no record of selectively denying faculty opportunities, and in fact boasts a faculty community nationally respected for its viewpoint diversity — borders on the absurd.”

Gansler’s letter also stressed that Washington, who joined GMU in 2020, was not directly involved in evaluating faculty candidates. It accused the government of making “gross mischaracterizations” of his statements regarding efforts to foster a welcoming environment and a racially balanced faculty at the state’s most diverse public university.

GMU appointed Washington as president in 2020 after his successful tenure as dean of the engineering school at the University of California, Irvine, where he prioritized building a diverse faculty. Since joining the Fairfax, Virginia-based college, he has launched a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence to review university policies for racial bias and revised hiring procedures to ensure greater inclusion of women and people of color in applicant pools.

After its six-week-long investigation, OCR gave George Mason leaders 10 days to agree to revise policies, retrain staff, and assign a compliance officer to oversee the changes. The proposed resolution agreement would require the university to remove “any provisions that require or encourage the use of race to favor or disfavor any candidate.”

But Gansler says abiding by the investigation and issuing an apology “would be falsely admitting to conduct that did not occur and would open GMU to further legal risk in concurrent and future investigations by other agencies.”

“What the government is really wanting to do here is to humiliate the president, and not only that, but expose him, and the university, to future legal action not only by the government but also potentially thousands of people who have applied for positions at George Mason since 2020,” said James H. Finkelstein, a professor emeritus of public policy at George Mason who strongly encouraged Washington not to apologize.

Finkelstein warns that by apologizing, Washington could expose himself to further legal trouble, asking whether a white male applicant passed over in favor of a minority or female candidate “would have a claim.”

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Denene Millner, elevating your excellence

by Ida Harris

August 27, 2025

Elevating Your Excellence: Denene Millner Is A GOAT In The Literary Game

Denene Millner has been excellent her entire career.

Denene Millner has consistently excelled throughout her 25-year career. The former entertainment reporter and political journalist for the New York Daily News—and former editor for Parenting and Honey Magazine, the seminal millennial women’s publication that debuted in the early 2000s—turned author of 35 books to-date, six of which are New York Times best-sellers; two that were adapted into screenplays, one for the silver screen—is currently vice president and publisher of Denene Millner Books, a Black children’s book imprint under Simon & Schuster Publishing House.

Millner’s commitment and tenacity in identifying and amplifying Black stories beyond the stereotypical narrative of mainstream media—be it news, lifestyle, or publishing—is the hallmark that catapulted and shaped her life’s work.

After eight years in journalism, Millner pivoted into publishing after a supervising editor continually suppressed her talent and blocked her professional advancement in the newsroom. As fate would have it, the emerging writer had written a feature article for the newspaper that went viral, resulting in a commission to write her first book, The Sistahs’ Rules: Secrets for Meeting, Getting, and Keeping a Good Black Man. A single offer led to another, which led to another, which eventually led to Millner being commissioned to co-author Steve Harvey’s wildly popular book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, which went on to sell over 2.8 million copies and spend 64 weeks on The New York Times’ best-seller list.

Due to her writing prowess and ability to transform people’s life experiences into impactful narratives, Millner became a highly sought-after biographer, having penned the memoirs of Taraji P. Henson, Jessye Norman, Charlie Wilson, Cookie Johnson, and Nene Leakes, among others.

In 2008, Millner launched MyBrownBaby, a platform that addressed all the wonders of Black parenting, as a response to society’s negative portrayal of Black children, mothers, and fathers. MyBrownBaby spoke to the nuance of parenting Black children and protecting Black kids during a time when Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis were gunned down by overzealous white vigilantes and Tamir Rice and Michael Brown were killed by police officers.

Millner’s excellence and leadership extend beyond the page and into the community. In addition to being a popular and prolific writer, Denene dedicated six years to leading a writing program that she spearheaded within the halls of Atlanta Public School system’s Grady High School. Millner personally tutored students, rallied student and community engagement in the school’s annual poetry competition, and developed college essay clinics for a diverse group of students who needed the support.

Millner has been just as influential in the careers of other mainstream authors, providing guidance, support, and opportunity.

Amid the nation’s racial reckoning, Millner challenged the publishing industry on its lack of African American representation in Black children’s texts. She advocated not only for herself as a parent and writer, but also for other children’s storytellers and African American artists and illustrators. Her activism and advocacy led to negotiating her own imprint under the Simon & Schuster publishing company and becoming a publisher of stories created specifically for and about young Black girls and boys. In 2016, her breakout year as editorial director, Millner acquired, shepherded, and published the multi-award-winning children’s book, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes. This was a monumental honor and feat in the publishing industry and for Black households alike. Denene Millner, a Black woman, accomplished all this.

In recent years, Millner continues to have an astounding impact in her community through her leadership and writing. She has penned the critically acclaimed historical novel One Blood, which, in its own right, is a literary masterpiece that addresses the Black familial experience, adoption, and adoptees’ right to know and own their identity. Over the past 25 years, Millner’s literary prowess has grown increasingly sophisticated, but also necessary to the intersecting demographics she represents: African American, female, and humankind. Her place in the canon cannot be denied. Millner is perpetually elevating excellence.

by Mitti Hicks

August 27, 2025

SGiQ Founders Are Making Sure Black-Owned Businesses Stay Ahead With Ai

SGIQ Business Solutions is on a mission to help entrepreneurs and business owners leverage AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has arrived in the workplace with signs that it’s not only here to stay but is essential to growing and scaling businesses. Shaun Jeffries and Gary Lovelace are making sure that Black-owned and small-owned companies are not getting left behind in AI with their firm, SGIQ Business Solutions. The men are on a mission to help entrepreneurs and business owners leverage AI to improve efficiency, increase productivity, and drive sustainable growth without requiring technical expertise.

“AI can even the playing field for solo entrepreneurs and small agencies that don’t have the money or bandwidth to staff up and get things done,” said Lovelace. “We consult with companies and help them identify their pain points.”

According to research from McKinsey & Company, 92% of companies are planning to increase their AI Investments over the next three years. By the end of 2025, Goldman Sachs analysis estimates that total investments in AI will soar to nearly $200 billion, including companies investing in AI for their workforce and investors backing AI startups. Despite the investments, AI can be overwhelming even for larger corporations, and integrating the technology as a small business owner can hinder scaling when smaller agencies are already strapped for time and resources.

According to Jeffries and Lovelace, a lack of time and money are often significant hurdles for small business owners to get things done. SGIQ technology allows overstretched business owners to scale and manage their businesses with autonomous communication assistants. Some services offered under SGIQ include call and messaging automation, appointment scheduling, chatbot, customer support, sales and lead generation automation, social media and marketing automation, and more.

“This is important because there are a lot of tasks that need to be done to operate a business, but the owner, who is already wearing 10 hats, doesn’t have time to do the things needed to scale their business,” Lovelace adds.

How SGIQ Can Improve Black Small Businesses Through AI

Starting a new business is difficult, and a majority fail within the first few years. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of opening. 45% fail during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.

However, statistics show a disproportionately high failure rate for Black-owned businesses. The Enterprise Center at Salen State University found that eight out of 10 Black-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months. Many of them face a disproportionate number of challenges, including a lack of access to capital and resources.

With SGIQ, the SGIQ co-founders want to make sure that Black-owned businesses have access to more resources.

“We see the importance of our community and building up businesses to build wealth,” said Lovelace. “We think that this technology will help even the playing field for small businesses and businesses that don’t have a lot of access to capital. You can close some of the gaps with the utilization of AI.”

The men are also setting up a nonprofit called the Linden Institute for AI Literacy, which pays homage to the street they grew up on in Jamaica, Queens. The nonprofit will focus on AI training for educators, parents, and underserved communities amid a competitive global economy.

“As companies are embracing AI to sell you more things and increase their business, we’re not educating our kids to live in that world,” Lovelace added. “In five to ten years from now, the kids in school now are going to be living in a different world with AI. We’re not educating them for the future, we’re educating them for the now. We want to educate them better.”

National Guards Now Carrying Firearms Throughout D.C. As Trump Escalates Military Deployment

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 26, 2025

National Guards Now Carrying Firearms Throughout D.C. As Trump Escalates Military Deployment

Nattional Guard troops in Washington D.C. have started carrying firearms as Trump ramps up military deployment.

After Donald Trump decided to increase military deployment in Washington, D.C., National Guard troops patrolling the capital are now armed.

A Defense Department official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that some units on specific missions will be carrying firearms, ranging from handguns to rifles, AP reports. The official added that all armed units have been trained and are following the strict rules of engagement established by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The official said only certain troops would be carrying firearms, and those working in transportation or administration would likely remain unarmed. However, one day after speaking with the anonymous defense official, an Associated Press photographer observed South Carolina National Guard members outside Union Station carrying holstered handguns.

A task force spokesperson said that National Guard members assigned to safety and security duties will be armed, while those handling “beautification” tasks, such as community restoration, would likely not.

The heightened military presence follows a statement from the joint task force overseeing policing in the capital, which said units began carrying service weapons on Aug. 25. The task force emphasized that force should be used “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm,” and affirmed its commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of Washington residents.

Since Trump deployed U.S. troops to the nation’s capital, thousands of National Guard members and federal officers have been patrolling D.C.’s streets. The move, which overrides the authority of state and local law enforcement, comes as he weighs expanding military deployments to other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, and New York.

“I think Chicago will be our next,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on Aug. 22. “And then we’ll help with New York.”

Critics are calling out what many see as Trump’s use of the military against Democrat-led cities with Black mayors and majority-minority populations.

“This is about profiling us,” Rev. Al Sharpton said while speaking at Howard University.

“This is laced with bigotry and racism,” he later added. “Not one white mayor has been designated. And I think this is a civil rights issue, a race issue, and an issue of D.C. statehood.”

A White House official said that although National Guard troops in D.C. are armed, they are not making arrests and will continue to focus on protecting federal property and supporting law enforcement during arrests. So far, over 2,200 National Guard soldiers and airmen, most from out of state, have been deployed to D.C. as part of Trump’s coordinated effort to address crime and homelessness in the capital that has seen violent crime drop roughly 27% year over year.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2025

Jeezy Connects With Uber To Offer 101 People Rides

Jeezy partners with Uber after one of their drivers, Tanner, drove him 10 hours to make a show on his recent tour

Several weeks after Atlanta rapper Jeezy was rescued by an Uber driver who drove 10 hours so he could make his next show, the Soul Survivor lyricist has announced that he has partnered with the rideshare service.

According to the New York Post, Jeezy was leaving South Carolina to head to Baltimore for an upcoming show at The Lyric Baltimore on Aug. 1 when, due to bad weather, his flight, along with several others, was canceled. After several attempts to get him to Baltimore, nothing was working out for Jeezy. While his team arranged for him to take an Uber to the local airport, Jeezy decided to ask the driver if he would drive him to his next destination; whatever the price, he would be glad to pay.

“I assured him that whatever it was, he’d have it,” Jeezy stated. “Like a real one, he didn’t hesitate and just kept driving.”

After contemplating the trip, he agreed to it and proceeded to drive 10 hours to make sure Jeezy arrived on time for his next show.

He brought the driver, Tanner, on stage that night and thanked him in front of the audience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @jeezy

Fast forward a couple of weeks, Jeezy takes to his social media and informs his followers that he has connected with Uber for a partnership to help those in need of a ride, including single mothers, entrepreneurs, college kids, whoever needs a ride, in essence. He promises that the rideshare company and he are helping to provide rides for 101 people.

“I’m happy to announce my collaboration with @uber to help provide rides for 101 people in need—people like single mothers, people who have a hard time getting to work… We see you. We’ve got you. Uber is covering the rides; my @streetdreamzfoundation team will be hitting the streets, surprising these people in need.”

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wet nurse, Black women, slavery, enslaved women, autonomy, breastfeeding

by Keka Araújo

August 26, 2025

From Slavery To Liberation: The Diasporic Legacy Of Black Breastfeeding

The historical pain from slavery still resonates, shaping complex and often painful relationships with breastfeeding in the Black community.

A Traumatic Legacy

For over a decade, Black Breastfeeding Week has served as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of Black mothers, creating a space to celebrate and advocate for a healthier future. Yet, this annual observance also serves as a poignant reminder of a painful history. The brutal practice of forcing enslaved Black women to act as wet nurses for white children was a widespread and deliberate act of control, one that stripped Black women of their autonomy and commodified their bodies.

This exploitation inflicted a legacy of trauma that continues to affect Black women’s relationships with breastfeeding today. The historical pain from slavery still resonates, shaping complex and often painful relationships with breastfeeding in the Black community.

Enforced Wet Nursing And Familial Disruption

The forced use of enslaved Black women as wet nurses was a heart-wrenching practice that stripped them of their fundamental maternal rights. Enslavers viewed an enslaved woman’s breast milk as a valuable asset to be bought, sold, or rented, with records of these transactions appearing in newspapers across the Americas and Brazil.

To ensure a constant, available milk supply for their own children, enslavers would forcibly separate enslaved mothers from their own infants, sometimes permanently. This cruel act denied the Black children the immunological and nutritional benefits of their mother’s milk, often leading to a reliance on inadequate substitutes like dirty water or cow’s milk, which contributed to devastatingly high infant mortality rates. The emotional and psychological trauma for these mothers, who endured the grief of separation while being forced to nurture another’s child, was immense and lasting.

The Purpose Of Enforced Wet Nursing

The motivations behind this practice were multifaceted and insidious. For affluent white women, hiring a wet nurse was a symbol of social status that freed them from the perceived “drudgery” of breastfeeding. For enslavers, the practice served as a tool of manipulation and control, allowing them to dictate the reproductive lives of enslaved women whose bodies were seen as tools for labor and profit. Enslavers would often time the pregnancies of enslaved women to align with their wives’ due dates, ensuring a lactating woman was always available. Accounts suggest that some enslaved mothers were even beaten to ensure compliance, a horrific form of coercion that contributed to the racist stereotype of Black mothers as unloving or harsh, a narrative used to justify the enslavers’ inhumanity.

The Lasting Legacy Of Breastfeeding

The trauma of enforced wet nursing created a historical wound that has never fully healed. This history contributes to a cultural memory where breastfeeding is painfully associated with exploitation and a lack of autonomy. For some, avoiding breastfeeding became a way to reclaim agency and disassociate from this painful past. This is a sentiment that has been passed down through generations, with some older Black women discouraging younger women from breastfeeding, believing it to be a practice tied to a period of servitude. The advent of infant formula further compounded this intergenerational trauma, as companies aggressively targeted Black communities with marketing campaigns that framed formula as a modern, sophisticated alternative to a painful history.

Today, these historical factors, combined with enduring systemic barriers, contribute to significant disparities. The high labor participation rate of Black women—higher than any other group—means they are often the primary economic support for their families. The financial pressure forces many to return to work sooner, often to jobs that lack paid family leave or adequate lactation accommodations. Despite legal mandates, employers frequently fail to comply, leaving Black workers vulnerable to demotion, harassment, or job loss for simply trying to exercise their right to breastfeed. Furthermore, inequities in healthcare and a lack of culturally competent support from medical institutions compound the problem. The relatively low breastfeeding rate for Black mothers is therefore not a matter of personal choice but a direct result of systemic racism that continues to impact their health and well-being.

The fight for Black maternal and infant health requires more than just promoting breastfeeding. It demands a comprehensive effort to acknowledge and dismantle the centuries of historical trauma and systemic inequities that have made this natural act a struggle.

The lasting effects of forced wet nursing are a painful reminder that for Black women, the fight to nourish their children is not just a personal choice—it is a struggle against a system that has long denied them the very foundation of wellness. The only way forward is to prioritize policies that remove barriers to health and well-being for all.