Buying Black Birth Workers : Some of Y'alls Cornbread Ain't Done In The Middle

Chardá Bell, IBCLC, CBE, CD
Apr 17
3 min read

Updated: Apr 18

Let’s Talk About Predatory Formula Marketing in the Black Community

Let me start by saying this loud and clear. This about the companies, brands, and institutions that prey on Black families, influencers, leaders, and organizations, not for support, not for impact, but for diversity clout and profit. And when they’re done, guess who’s left holding the bag? Us. Always us.

If you’re skeptical, that’s fine, just keep reading. Maybe we can get your cornbread a little more done in the middle… which, in case you missed it, means we’re gonna smarten you up.

This Ain’t Just About Formula. It’s a Pattern

The same way tobacco was marketed to us. The same way liquor stores line our blocks but not theirs. The same way they flood our neighborhoods with fast food and call it a “choice.” The same way payday loans pop up every other block in our zip codes. Formula marketing is no different.

It’s not just the product, it’s the predatory strategy. It’s the billboard in the predominantly Black communities. It’s the ad with the Black mama smiling while holding a can instead of her baby to her chest. It’s the free sample in a low resource clinic. It’s the targeting of the very communities who have already been robbed of access, support, and care for generations.

Let’s Be Real About Breastfeeding and Formula

Infant formula is not the enemy. There are babies who need it, and families who rely on it. I’ve supported plenty of them. And sometimes, formula can literally be life-saving when medically necessary, which is uncommon.

But when a formula company that starts with a B and ends with an E and rhymes with hobby launches a full-blown campaign designed to undermine Black breastfeeding, we need to call it what it is: harmful. Aggressive. And calculated.

And here’s the part they don’t want you to know. Black infants are 2 to 4 times more likely to die before their first birthday. Now think about the marketing decisions being made behind closed doors. You think it’s random who they target?

Formula, SIDS, and the Science They Skip

Mixed feeding (formula + breastfeeding) might have some protective factors. But formula-only feeding has been linked to a higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Why? Because formula is harder to digest, making babies sleep deeper and longer, which might sound good in theory, until that sleep turns fatal. Breastfed babies are more easily aroused from sleep. That small biological difference? It can save lives, especially in those critical 2–4 months.

Receipts on Receipts: Black Infant Mortality

According to the CDC:

Black infants die at 2.4x the rate of white infants.
We’re almost 4x more likely to lose our babies due to low birthweight.
And we have 2.9x the rate of SIDS compared to white babies.

That’s not coincidence. That’s systemic.

Add in the fact that Black mothers are more likely to get late or no prenatal care and that our babies are more likely to survive when treated by a Black doctor? The puzzle pieces start coming together real quick.

And listen, just because a provider is Black doesn’t mean they’re for us. (If you know, you know. And if you don’t, I wrote about it—here.

So What Makes It Predatory?

Glad you asked. Let’s break it down:

They violate the WHO Code.Every can or bottle of artificial milk legally has to say “breast is best.” But they’ll still try to convince you formula is just as good even when it ain’t.
They make wild claims.“Boosts IQ!” “Just like breastmilk!” “Best for babies!” none of that’s rooted in unbiased science.
They target the most vulnerable. Poor mamas. Young mamas. First-time mamas. Black mamas. Brown mamas. Mamas with no support. Mamas trying to keep their heads above water.
They cozy up to care providers. Free lunches, sponsored events, subtle endorsements. All of it clouds the advice our families get.

The Most Dangerous Collab You Never Asked For

Now they’re coming for your favorite Black influencers. They’re sliding into the inboxes of Black doulas, lactation consultants, wellness centers, and non-profits offering checks to push cans.

Let’s be clear: they’re not doing this for our babies. They’re doing it for the optics. For the data points. For the dollar signs.

And some folks? They’re biting.

So What Do We Do?

We stay loud. We stay informed. We push for:

Stronger regulations and accountability.
Culturally rooted breastfeeding support led by folks who get it.
Community education so nobody gets played by a shiny label and a marketing pitch.
And most of all, we protect Black families with truth and radical care.

If you made it this far and you’re still not getting it… maybe your cornbread really ain’t done in the middle. All tea. All shade. With a little breastmilk.