When you hear the term “crack baby, ” you might picture the movie Losing Isaiah with the screaming baby suffering due to his mother’s drug habit.

He was the classic crack baby: disruptive, troubled, and fictional.

Crack babies aren’t a real thing

Yes, some children were exposed in utero to cocaine, but there is no scientific literature to support the theory of the troubled crack baby.

The story of the crack baby myth is one based in racism, classism, politics, and ratings. It began with a doctor who thought that babies exposed to cocaine were suffering unique, extreme effects that would only increase as the children aged. His report was ratings gold.

Doctors at the time questioned the existence

There were doctors who disagreed with the crack baby label and attempted to dispel the myth. Dr. Clare Coles had noted that many of the signs of a crack baby were normal behaviors for premature babies. Yet her rebuttal didn’t make good news.

“Coles’ findings were ignored, however, because they didn’t fit into cultural stereotypes and failed to feed the media narrative. Reporters railed about an estimated $5 billion annual strain on the government, and everyone got extremely worked up because the concept of the “crack baby” plays into sadly familiar ideas of race and class. Since crack was relatively inexpensive and far more prevalent in poor areas, it was convenient to use this fear to justify classist and racist rhetoric (i.e., “poor, black neighborhoods bring their problems onto themselves and cost the rest of us by doing so”), ” Callie Beusman wrote in the article Good News: 1980s ‘Crack Babies’ Epidemic Was Hugely Overblown.

In an interview to the New York Times, Coles said, “There are certain ideas that people want to believe that really fit in with cultural stereotypes, and it’s hard to get rid of those.”

The crack mother was the worst welfare fear

In her book Living Color: Race and Television in the United States, Sarah Torres, a professor of information and media studies, explains the racism behind the media storm: “As a composite “she-devil, ” the crack mother takes the image of the welfare mother, so prominent in the demonology of Reaganism, and fuses it with the sexually aggressive Jezebel. […] A particularly menacing image of fertility, the crack mother personifies an out-of-control black sexuality.”

Torres references quotes from leaders at the time such as Rep. George Miller of the Select Committee on Children who said, “We’re going to have these children, who are the most expensive babies ever born in America, are going to overwhelm every social service delivery system that they come in contact with through the rest of their lives.”

Similarly, a Florida juvenile court judge William Gladstone said, “These kids have enormous, physical problems, mental problems. They will go into a system that is woefully inadequate, woefully underfunded. They’ll grow up to be tomorrow’s delinquents.”

These children weren’t seen as medically frail victims, instead they were presented as a future criminals.

What the research really says about crack babies

The fears about these children were unfounded as current research shows that “[a]lmost every prenatal complication originally thought to be due directly to [prenatal cocaine exposure] was found to result from confounding factors such as poor maternal nutrition, use of other drugs, depression, and lack of prenatal care.”

The studies are not condoning cocaine use. Instead, they found that the actual health impacts are limited, and the children outgrow them.

Poverty and the “crack baby” label hurt the children more

Some researchers think that the low expectations of being a “crack baby” did the most damage. As Michael Lewis, a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, explained to the New York Times:
“in a doctor’s office or a classroom, ‘you cannot tell’ which children were exposed to cocaine before birth.

That report goes on to say that poverty related factors were much more damaging on children’s intellectual and emotional development. Researchers have also found that being labeled as a crack baby negatively impacted the children as they were stigmatized with every physical or behavioral problem being too quickly associated to the lost cause of being a crack baby.

The problem was discussed in an NPR interview with Dr. Hallam Hurt, neonatologist and professor of pediatrics:

Host Michel Martin: Do you worry, though, that a whole generation of kids [..] was written off essentially because people believed that they weren’t capable of very much? I wonder if you ever think that maybe more kids could’ve achieved at a higher level, if people had not been so quick to believe that they couldn’t do anything.

Dr. Hallam Hurt: I absolutely believe that. And I think that one of the most deleterious things is when a child might have been identified as quote, that pejorative term, crack kid, in school. And often they were written off.

These children were most definitely victims though the culprits turned out to be more complicated than drug abuse.

Had you heard this updated information? Are you surprised?

Запись New Studies Show the “Crack Baby” Was a Media Myth Designed to Frighten Whites and Criminalize Black Children впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

Hello Mommies!

Today I’d love to hear how your pregnancies came about!

My pregnancy was a super surprise! My husband and I had only been married for about 18 months, and were coming off of a very difficult financial time. The plan was to enjoy our new financial stability and ‘live selfishly’ for a while before becoming parents. We talked about our ‘5 year plan’ and decided that my 29th birthday would be a good time to start ‘trying’ for kids. Imagine my surprise when, at age 26, I found out that I was pregnant.

To be totally honest, I was kind of devastated by it. Life had been so hard for us, and we were finally catching a break, and I felt like that having a child would plunge us right back into ‘hard living’. When I went for my first prenatal appointment, I confessed my fears to the midwife. She was very compassionate and non judgmental. She presented termination of pregnancy as an option. But she also told me to consider two things; firstly, that roughly 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned, and secondly, that humans are resilient, and always find ways to survive and thrive.

Her words changed my perspective, and I realized that I could take on the challenge of being a mother — for the sake of my unborn child. I’m about a year in to being a mom, and it is very tough, but I’m glad that I gave my son the gift of life. I’ve also been delighted to discover that his arrival hasn’t compromised the quality of my life, but enhanced it. I’ve become more professionally focused and emotionally mature. I’ve put renewed effort into building my home and strengthening my marriage, and I’ve ended many unhealthy relationships. I don’t think I would have done any of that (or at least not as quickly) had I not been anticipating the arrival of a child!

Alright ladies, what about you? Were your pregnancies planned or a surprise? And if you had a surprise pregnancy, what made you decide to go through with it?

Запись Was Your Pregnancy Planned or a Surprise? впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

A recent study showed that the pull out method of contraception has nearly the same rate of effectiveness as condoms. Check it out:

“Although withdrawal may not be as effective as some contraceptive methods, it is substantially more effective than nothing, ” said the report. “It is also convenient, requires no prior planning and there is no cost involved.”

Jones noted that one persistent myth often cited as a drawback to withdrawal — that there is mobile sperm in pre-ejaculate — is actually contradicted by two studies cited by the National Institutes of Health.

“In two small studies there is no sperm in the fluid, ” she said. “If the guy has had sex in the last couple of hours is the only way it gets in pre-cum. But if you go to the bathroom, it flushes the sperm out.”

But the study is controversial, and has been met with criticism, with family planning researchers saying it should only be used as a stopgap measure or emergency protection. Hormones and intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are still considered the most effective methods of birth control.

Baby and Blog writer Alicia B. recently wrote about stopping her use of birth control pills because of the hormone’s negative effects on her body.

I’m a fan of the pull out method, and have used it successfully for the past 7 years. I also recently downloaded menstrual and ovulation apps on my phone so I’m more aware of what’s going on in my body.

But I’m curious moms. What is your preferred method of birth control? Share your experiences and advice!

Запись What is Your Preferred Method of Birth Control? впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

A recent report showed that infant circumcisions have been on a 30 year decline in America. While the procedure is still very popular — 58% of baby boys are circumcised — opponents of circumcision say it’s akin to mutilation, and not a decision that should be made on behalf of a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics has shown support for childhood circumcision, citing

lower risks of acquiring HIV, genital herpes, human papilloma virus and syphilis. Circumcision also lowers the risk of penile cancer over a lifetime; reduces the risk of cervical cancer in sexual partners, and lowers the risk of urinary tract infections in the first year of life.

I’m curious to hear of your stories and experiences! Did you have your child circumcised? Why or why not?

Запись Did You Circumcise? Why or Why Not? впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

I really enjoy being a Mommy! The fact that there is a person who has little bits of my husband and I, mixed and matched into a bundle of cuteness, is just eternally delightful. As she unveils more and more of her personality, I see some of her Daddy’s charming mannerisms and my endearing quirks. It constantly blows my mind that I have the opportunity to watch a human being develop, from conception to adulthood. It is surprising how many things we take for granted about our daily life that were once major challenges and significant milestones. Being a parent allows me to appreciate and celebrate these moments. But there is a hefty price, paid daily, to enjoy these precious moments. As parents we invest all of our resources into the life of this tiny human being. We use all the knowledge and experience we have to build our little ones up to be leaders who will make a difference in their time.

In my teen years, I wasn’t infatuated with mommyhood or the wonders of parenting. In fact I never had a fondness for babies or children. As a young adult I always kept a plan A, B, C and D for contraception, as did many of my friends. We had accepted society’s programming to prioritise academic and professional pursuits, and we preferred to channel our resources into maintaining comfortable lifestyles. Full-time jobs and part-time studies were cushioned by spa days, fine dining, all-inclusive resort vacations and frequent flyer miles. We knew this routine didn’t necessarily conflict with being a parent, but we also knew they weren’t the best worlds to combine. We never had to look very far for a steady stream of complaints and lectures about the disadvantages of parenthood, and how easy and uncomplicated our lives were. We received random warnings from elders who thought it best to postpone childbearing until one’s place in society had been established.

On the other side of things we dealt with nudges from parents wanting grandchildren, siblings wanting nieces and nephews, family friends and co-workers who warned that our spouses would have illegitimate children because we were depriving them. But rarely did any of these ‘nudgers’ take note that we, the childless, weren’t interested in what they were selling. These ‘well-wishers’ never considered the level of contentment we had, with all the things going on in our lives. They never genuinely inquired about our personal goals or paid attention to our priorities. We were made to feel that the sum total of our existence was how many children we produced.

Because we were choosing to postpone childbearing, the nagging was easy to shrug off. Not so for those who are suffering silently as blow after insensitive blow is dealt to their wounds of infertility and loss. There are couples who have agreed to build a life together, knowing they won’t be able to conceive, and they shouldn’t be forced to disclose their circumstance to anyone. And there are couples who have suffered silently through miscarriages or still-births. It doesn’t matter what angle you take it from, any conversation about childbearing is a discussion about a person’s reproductive health and sexual activity. And, though it might not be perceived as such — the reality is that it’s a blatant intrusion into a very private aspect of an individual’s life and a couple’s relationship. You just might be crossing the line if you bring up the topic of childbearing uninvited.

Although I completely adore all the wonderful ways my daughter has transformed my life, I haven’t forgotten that I was happy before she came into my life. I would never want to change being a mother, but I am still very conscious of the joys of childless living. My childless friends don’t have to share their time, money and attention. They are free to pursue any and all of their passions (school, career, hobbies, fitness, etc) without any reservations. They don’t have to share their spare time or surrender intimate moments to juvenile interruptions. They don’t have the lifelong responsibility and psychological bond of obligation to a child.

We should respect everyone as an individual — giving them the right to choose (or not choose) parenthood, and the privacy to discuss or conceal their choice or circumstance. As parents who hope to raise respectful and compassionate children, we need to model an acceptance of diversity; because the reality is that not everyone can, should or desires to have children. When you’ve fallen in love with your baby, it’s very easy to assume that every woman wants to or is able to have children. But motherhood shouldn’t lead one to harass or nudge. The most important thing we can do for our loved ones is support their interests and priorities — whether they include children or not.

Didan Ashanta is a natural living enthusiast who blogs at DidanAshanta.com. A native of Jamaica, she currently lives in Tokyo with her husband and 1-year-old daughter.

Запись Why I Never Ask Childless People About Having Kids впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

Music always has always been important to me.  It has the power to make us laugh, cry and tap into our emotions.   As a parent I am very conscious of all types of media my children consume, especially music.  Sometimes I feel I’m the only parent who believes that there are some songs kids should not be allowed to listen to.  But, am I wrong?  Is it harmless to play good music with adult themes, if the meaning is covered up in metaphors?

While I was writing the article about building self-esteem in black girls I was trying to think of songs that affirm brown beauty.  The first song that came to mind was India Arie’s “Brown Skin.”  Although “Brown Skin” is one of my all time favorite jams, and does an excellent job of celebrating brown skin, it is a very sexual song and is for grown folks.  I would not want my 3 year old daughter singing it.

In the past few months, I’ve noticed more and more people posting videos of their children — and most of them look under 5 years of age — singing portions of Beyonce’s, “Drunk in Love.” 

Every time I see something like that, I cringe.  But the comments sections is filled with people saying how cute it is.  Really? Cute?

Metaphors:  that’s the excuse that a lot of people give.  They say, “Those lyrics have so many metaphors, the kids won’t understand!”  I guess to some that makes it ok, but I beg to differ.  Kids are hungry for knowledge, and are quick to discover meaning, without adults spelling things out.  You could even argue that some kids try harder to find out, when told that something is bad by adults.  But even if they really do not understand the meaning, does that make it ok or even cute?

We have to be aware of what kids are exposed to these days. There are near-constant stories of young children having sex in school bathrooms and not all of them make it to the mainstream news.  Now, I am not saying that these behaviors are a direct result of music or other media, but I can’t help but think it’s a good idea to keep grown up music for grown up listening ears.  Additionally posting a video of your child singing about “drinking watermelon” or “graining on that wood” seems inappropriate to say the least.

Mommies what do you think?  Are there certain song you do not allow your kids to listen to?  Is there a certain age where kids can listen to anything?  Share your thoughts.

Angele is a wife to a wonderful, creative husband, mother to two beautiful, intelligent daughters and a lover of art, education and laughter.  She is the creator and author of ABC remix.

Запись Is It Appropriate To Allow Kids and Toddlers to Listen to Adult Music? впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.