Tika Sumpter and Thai Randolph unveiled Sugaberry, a lifestyle brand for moms of color a few months back and they’re continuing their rise with a virtual summit when many need it most.
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Yaya DaCosta, Dr. Jackie Walters, and Latham Thomas are among the women who will join the duo for Sugaberry’s inaugural MILK & SUGA Summit on August 28th. The virtual event will feature candid conversations around topics including lactation, latching techniques, and other important issues.
The full day of programming is bringing together moms, doctors, doulas, nutritionists and midwives to shed light on the joys and challenges of Black breastfeeding.
“Milk & Suga is a showcase in celebrating significant joys of Black motherhood,” Sumpter said in a statement.
“When I discovered I’d be a mom, I didn’t see spaces where we existed to embody the pleasures of this journey. We are not made up of only our pain and trauma, we need and deserve sweetness and my hope is the Milk & Suga Summit carves out a space I wish I saw back then.”
Randolph shared her thoughts on the importance of community support for Black mothers.
“There is a significant disparity in the rate at which Black mothers and White mothers breastfeed. That gap is not driven by a mere matter of ‘preference,’ but rather is the byproduct of complex chasms in access to healthcare, representation, and societal support that marginalizes Black moms, and their babies during what’s supposed to be a special time in the mother/child development journey,” Randolph said.
“As a mom who faced challenges breastfeeding (and out of frustration ultimately opted not to), I am thrilled to create a space where Black women can be supported, celebrated and guided through their options to nourish their babies,” she added.
The MILK & SUGA Summit will go down during Black Breastfeeding Week on Friday, August 28, from 9 a.m. to midnight PST. It will be free to live-stream on Perigon and attendees can RSVP by clicking HERE.
The full schedule for the day is HERE.
Below, a brief description of some of the day’s events:
FED IS BEST
We’ve all heard about the value of “Liquid Gold” but we also know breastfeeding isn’t always an option for or preference of every mom. In this session, moms, nutritionists, and medical doctors will explore the fundamentals of keeping your child full, fed, and feeling fine – regardless of which path you choose.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED
It’s not ‘latch and go’ for all of us and early struggles can be a deterrent for many new moms. Sure nursing can be lovely, but it can also be HARD. In this session, our lactation specialist will guide women on tips, tricks, and techniques for latching, pumping, and getting through the early parts of your breastfeeding journey.
LACTATION & RELAXATION – A Guided Meditation
Let go and let it flow. Breastfeeding isn’t all about the mechanics, it’s about your mindset. In this doula-led session, we’ll get mantras and meditation exercises to relax your bodies and your mind when easing into breastfeeding.
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BLACK BREASTFEEDING IS BEAUTIFUL – AND NORMAL
Join visible and vocal public figures on a quest to normalize the beauty of Black breastfeeding. Moms will share their experiences breastfeeding – from navigating public breastfeeding to showcasing their precious moments on social media.
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