In August, a study brought to light a concerning revelation: Black newborns under the care of white physicians were three times more likely to experience mortality in the hospital compared to their white counterparts. This staggering finding underscores the persistent disparities in healthcare based on race. David and Jewell Butler, photographers from Carma Collective Photography in San Diego, California, personally understand the challenges faced by Black families in receiving adequate care. Motivated by these disparities, the couple decided it was time to raise their voices—loudly and beautifully. They embarked on a powerful photography series capturing Black mothers breastfeeding, serving as a poignant reminder that not all parents receive equal support for their children.
Speaking with CafeMom, David and Jewell shared that the project emerged as a response to the tragic loss of their son Zion in 2018. In the aftermath of Zion's passing, the couple felt a compelling need to do "everything we can to share and highlight the disparities Black men, women, and children face in our healthcare system."
The project commenced with photographs taken of various mothers nursing their little ones in August 2019, utilizing volunteers from the San Diego area. This year, they featured a new set of mothers in honor of Black Breastfeeding Week, sharing the photos on their Instagram account.
"All these women are amazing, powerful, and beautiful individuals who deeply understand every struggle that we speak about," Jewell says. "We are grateful to them for coming out and participating in these projects to share their breastfeeding journeys with the world."
The couple intentionally chose mothers to convey their message because, for many Black families, the struggle begins "from the first day of pregnancy." Jewell underscores the importance of their intentions, emphasizing that Black families encounter challenges from pregnancy to birth and throughout their lives.
In light of recent shootings involving George Floyd and Jacob Blake, it's evident that Black fathers also face their share of formidable challenges that demand attention. According to Jewell, these challenges span from pregnancy to birth and throughout their lives.
The couple's projects hold significant importance to them, as they've experienced various struggles, including a lack of resources, inadequate healthcare, traumatic birth stories, and the loss of a child. Zion, their angel baby, inspired much of their work.
In a study on Black newborn mortality rates, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America examined 1.8 million hospital births in Florida between 1992 and 2015. The study found that the numbers of Black newborn deaths decreased when they were treated by Black physicians, especially in more challenging births and hospitals delivering more Black babies. Although there was no significant improvement in maternal mortality when mothers shared the same race as their physicians, the study highlighted a substantial disparity in the number of white physicians treating Black patients giving birth compared to physicians who shared their race.
Jewell expresses that they push forward every single day, undertaking these projects to bring awareness to disparities in the Black community and advocating for more representation and resources.
The couple hopes that others will see their photos and understand the importance of Black pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and families. David emphasizes that while they can't alter genetics, science, or the challenges stacked against them, they remain strong and resilient. Their work aims to bring awareness to the trials and tribulations, regardless of the cost, and continue shedding light on their community's needs.
