Bus Driver Berates Mother for Breastfeeding

June 30th, 2011 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

 

Afrykayn Moon with her son and daughter. Photo courtesy of Regina H. Boone/Detroit Free Press

There’s yet another controversy in the ever-contentious subject of breastfeeding in public.

Afrykayn Moon, a 32-year-old mother of two from Taylor, Michigan on her way to rent a car, learned the hard way that some folks don’t mind if you need to breastfeed, they just really don’t want to see it. While riding a Southeast Michigan SMART community bus last Friday, Moon was shocked when she was commanded to cover up while breastfeeding by the bus driver, or remove herself from the vehicle. Moon claims she had her 2-week-old baby boy in a football wrap so she believed no one could see very much. When Moon aptly refused to oblige with either requests, the driver refused to move from the stop. Moon says security officers from a nearby mall were called, rather than police, and came onto the bus to question her. Once the officers found that she was not necessarily an “unruly” passenger and let her stay on, they got off the vehicle. However, Moon says she was still berated by the driver after the officers’ departure and decided to have a relative come and pick her up from the bus, as she claims she was being cursed at in front of her son and 3-year-old daughter.

Coincidentally, Moon is part of the group, the Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association, and says she is familiar with breastfeeding laws in the state. Tomorrow, Moon and more than 50 other women plan to stage a protest at the terminal where the driver allegedly leaves from. The driver is currently on paid leave until the incident is finished being investigated. In another awkward twist of events, the scolding driver who instructed Moon to cover up or get off the bus was also a woman. Interesting…

Do you think Moon should have covered up? Or was the driver out of line?

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  • E.C. from D.C.

    He should’ve left that woman alone. smh

  • Pimpin'

    I dunno, Not everybody enjoys the site of breastfeeding, and if you're asked to stop then why not just oblige? I'm sure your kid could've waited 25 minutes until you got off to feed insteadve making a huge deal causing other passengers harm who couldve been on there way to work or school or wherever, just saying. I think both were wrong in how they approached the situation. The driver should've been less rude of course, but is it that hard to just oblige? I'm sure the driver wasn't the only one thinking it, and I've learned from taking the bus that Bus Drivers are protective of their bus, they see it is as their space and as a privelege to let you on. Again, not taking sides because Honestly I wouldn't have minded either way if I were on board…personally I think bad situations can be handled lightly without "Security" or whoever needing to get involved. *Shoulder Shrug*

    • Jen

      you think an infant can wait 25 minutes to be fed when it's hungry? Clearly you don't have children.

      • Pimpin

        You're right, I don't, but I have nieces and nephews whom both have waited for their meals (I.E. while its being cooked or whatever) like I said, I wasn't taking sides but if its offensive enough to the bus driver where she (the driver was a WOMAN) has to stop the bus and have security or whoever stop you, then it can probably just wait. What she was doing was perfectly legal and in her right, but the bus is still under the drivers control so why make a huge ordeal?

    • Looping Lou

      Should someone who is eating stop it if another passenger is disgusted by the look, like Sally said?
      Should someone who is talking stop if someone does not like his or her voice?
      I suppose you will laugh at these examples or shake your head and say "but that´s completely different". Well, it is not. Our society accepts certain things as ok for the outside world to see, and others as not ok. I strongly suggest breast feeding is one of the former.

  • http://flatnipples.blogspot.com Flatnipples

    Bus drivers do not own the buses, they are funded with public dollars and are considered public transportation. Also just because you CAN pump doesn't mean you have to. I am a pumping mom, but I only pump so my baby can have milk when I am away from her not while I'm with her and in public, that would be totally counter productive.

  • Brianna

    what would they prefer instead
    a baby thats crying cos it hungry
    then if the baby was cryin they would complain at her saying she doesnt know how to handle her kids
    SMH
    its a tough world

  • randomthought

    I wonder how many people get this twisted out of shape when women wear those revealing tops in public? I doubt this women just whipped her breast out on the bus–she was covered up, but the idea that she was feeding her child is more offensive than some hoochie just wearing indecent clothes. Come on people, I've never seen any bus driver–male or female–threaten to kick a scantily dressed woman off the bus for fear of "offending" the other passengers.

  • dvine

    the driver over reacted.. but if you are going to breast feed you should cover up.. he should be reprimanded but not fired because he/she held up passengers, wasted time calling security, and because he/she berated the young lady.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1024180072 Toya Thebestunevahad Bowman

    At the end of the day, America is Not free……B/C we have 2 cater to other's feelings,beliefs and opinons….Other countries have thier laws in order and they go on to practice them……Let ppl live,ppl!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506211093 Gideon Alvin White

    that's just crazy, people trip out, but would rather a woman pay for that expensive UNNEEDED, INFERIOR formula! I think the whole "no breast feeding" crap was put out by the formula companies because they're the only ones to gain by selling their sub-par product when they can get the superior product for FREE!

    I don't mind if they do it, I don't even care if they use a towel or not, it's their business. Leave them be!

  • http://www.angrylarry.com Angry Larry

    What I want to know is why was the driver looking at her when she should of been looking at the damn road!!

    • http://www.angrylarry.com Angry Larry

      I was on a flight to LA from ATL once and the lady next to me asked if I mind that she breast feed her child, I didnt mind at all, the baby has to feed. However the wrinkly old flight attendant had a problem with it and told her to stop feeding her child. I was like "are you serious, she has a towel and everything covering her breasts, you can't even see anything"…she gave me this look and went on about her business!!

    • Anna

      Maybe it was obstructing her view in the mirror… I could see how it would be a distraction but not that wouldn't be the right reaction.

    • Sally

      It´s "should have".

  • Mbali

    she shouldnt be cursed for feeding her child,but any breastfeeding mama,like anyone io public. u must consider the beliefs of other races,religions etc. So breast feed yes its gr8 for ur baby,but carry a receiving blanket or pashmina with you,place it over the shoulder that baby is feeding on,loop it under arm . Make it snug enuf 4 u to peep in on baby but high enough for anyone to ur back, side or front of u nt to see tht uv lifted or pulled down ur top.

    • Jennie

      Exactly! There are a number of natural bodily functions that I don't wish to see in public.

      I was at a graduation at Lincoln Center and a woman fully exposed her breast as she prepared to nurse her baby. Why? I would think the setting would be grounds for a little modesty.

      • http://flatnipples.blogspot.com Flatnipples

        I nurse in public and using a cover is not practical as my little one always removes it because she does not like a blanket over her face while she eats. I think the best thing for adult who are offended to do is respectfully look away. I would not sacrifice my baby being hungry to please anyone.

      • Jamie

        Well there is a number of comments on the internet I do not want to see, and yours is one of them. So would you please remove it? No? Then why should a woman nursing her child remove her baby from its food because you feel like it?

  • Anna

    The driver could have handled the situation in a calmer manner. She didn't need to humiliate the woman. She could have said, "Please do a better job at covering yourself." But what I want to know is whether the other passengers defended the woman or were they even bothered. If the mall security guards didn't see a situation, why does the bus driver?

    However, maybe the bus driver was having a bad day and this set her off. Still no reason to humiliate the woman.

  • Anna

    The driver was a woman.

  • ThaGawddess

    The driver was out of line.