What Would Fredrick Douglas, The Selfie King, Say About Your Brelfies?

Nursing is a privilege so many of our ancestors prayed for. So, I know for sure Mr. Douglas would be proud to see our babies suckling at their own mother’s breast.

Here is an excerpt from his autobiography:

“My mother and I were separated when I was but an infant before I knew her as my mother. It is a common custom from the part of Maryland from which I ran away. To part children from their mothers at a very early age frequently before the child has reached its twelfth month. Its mother is taken from it and hired out on some farm some considerable distance off. And the child is placed under the care of an old woman, too old for field labor. For what this separation is done, I do not know. Unless it is to hinder development of the child’s affection towards its mother. And to blunt and destroy the natural affection of the mother for the child. This is the inevitable result.” Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas (Audiobook, ch 1)

This passage is eerily similar to today. Would you agree?

I’m a pretty private person, but my experiences as a breastfeeding mother in America compels me to share our story.

Especially after instances where strangers were amazed and literally thanked me for nursing. Knowing this simple act of feeding our baby at the nipple, inspired and encouraged them, motivated me to spread our message even further.

I assume Mr. Douglas had a similar motivation. As the most photographed person in the 1800s, Fredrick Douglas continues to send bold messages of inspiration, determination, and success. He was his own subject and took great pride in his pose, his wardrobe, and salt-n-pepper strands. He deeply understood the importance of being in charge of one’s own image and documenting the journey.