10 Things I have Learned Being Vegan & Black
Yup, you read that right. I am a 28 year old, black, vegan. The "fried-chicken" stereotype doesn't apply to all of us. However, two years ago today, I was apart of that group. When I first heard about veganism, I thought skinny, rich, white woman. Unfortunately, this is how most people of color view veganism as well, because in some ways its kind of true. The majority of the vegan community is white & somewhat privileged. People have this perception because of the lack of access black communities have to plant-based options. Think about it, would you ever walk into a black neighborhood and see a Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, salad & juice shops or a farmers market? No, I didn't think so. You mostly see chicken spots, pizzerias, liquor stores, and other fast food restaurants. That's our reality. So, when I told people in the black community that I was going vegan, they were confused, thought it was a phase, and thought I was crazy. When I became vegan I was mocked repeatedly for adopting a “white” and “elitist” diet. Still mocked from time to time today actually. I was told that only privileged people can afford to eat vegan food. I don’t think people know what vegan truly means. In the past two years, being in a community where there is hardly people who look like me, I have learned a few things.
YOU CAN FIGHT FOR BOTH ANIMAL RIGHTS & BLACK RIGHTS.
Although at first I became plant based for health purposes, I started to recently transition my lifestyle to veganism. When you're on this diet, you are more aware of so many things happening around you. For me, it was learning that it is unnecessary to kill animals for food & clothing. We have evolved from cave man days and don't need animal meat to survive. With that being said, as a black woman, I also see the injustices placed on minorities (especially black men) on a daily basis. I think its wrong and believe/want it to stop. I just want all living beings to live happy and peacefully.
VEGAN GROCERIES ARE NOT EXPENSIVE.
Ever since going vegan, I actually spend way less on groceries; especially when I buy mostly package free items (loose veggies, fruits & bulk items). This is coming from personal experience. Even when I purchase organic produce, I still save an incredible amount of money per week on groceries. One pound of beans, rice, oats or legumes is a heck of a lot cheaper than a pound of chicken or beef. Let’s break it down. Take a look at Walmart, for example, one of the cheapest places to shop for groceries. Skinless boneless chicken breast costs $4.23 per pound and is sold with three servings. That will likely last you two days if you are shopping for yourself. A bag of black beans costs $1.88 per pound and has about 13 servings. This photo of me with a pile of veggies and fruits is a perfect example of low cost vegan grocery. All of this was $35 total!!! Tips on shopping plant based on a budget? Shop bulk, seasonal, local and package free. Only purchase what you will need for 2-3 days as produce goes bad quickly. Stay away from juice & salad shops. Stay away from specialty vegan items like vegan cheese, vegan meat alternatives etc. Most importantly, COOK YOUR OWN FOOD! It gets expensive when you try to eat out because you are afraid to try new recipes at home.
tHERE IS A BLACK VEGAN COMMUNITY, SMALL BUT THEY EXIST.
We're out there y'all! It was so important for me to find a vegan community of color because I needed support. I wasn't getting it at home and I knew I wasn't the only black person who cared about their health, animals and the environment. I found some amazing groups, celebrities and influencers who are black & vegan. Its a beautiful thing to see. Here are a few of the Black vegan groups I follow: Black Vegans Rock, Black Vegan Tube, Black Vegan Social. From these pages, you can find a ton of black vegans!
i AM STILL AS BLACK AS i WAS BEFORE i BECAME A VEGAN.
I didn't suddenly change my skin color, forget about my culture, become privileged or change my personality when I changed my diet. For all those who feel like black vegans lost their "black card," can you explain or give me a true definition of what "being black" means? I'll wait...Although we might share the same history of being enslaved & taken from our home countries, being black or a person of color can mean & represent so many things. The black community come from different countries, different cultures, speak different languages. are different shades of brown, eat different foods depending on their geographic location, practice different religions; the list goes on. You can't put us all in a small box because we stretch far and wide, we will never fit. That's all I have to say about that. I refuse to let someone question my blackness based on anything other than the color of my skin. Period.
i AM NOT BOUGIE FOR ASKING THE WAITER IF THERE IS ANY DAIRY IN THE SAUCE/FOOD.
Would you consider someone who is allergic to shell fish and asked to have this item removed from their order bougie? What about someone asking about gluten-free items because they have celiac disease? What about a Muslim who asked not to put bacon bits on their salad because in their religion they can't eat it? What about an Indian who ask for a taco without the steak, because in their culture they honor cows? Better yet, someone asking not to add croutons on their salad because they just don't like it? I am assuming no for the most part. So, why do black vegans get so much hate for adjusting their menu when they go out to eat? Whether the reason is for health, religion, or you just don't like something, its all the same thing! Just leave us be!
There are black vegan men out there to date, Don't assume I will end up with a man outside my race. Even though there is nothing wrong with that either.
I'm in constant watch. People are just waiting for me to walk through the door with a white man by my side. There is nothing wrong with that, but it gets annoying when that idea is attached to me not attracting black men because of my lifestyle choices. I have actually met and seen a ton of men of color who are vegan and the majority of them are NOT gay ( another misconception about black vegan men). Here are a few I follow on Instagram. NOTE: You can click on the image to follow them on Instagram too!:
going to family cookouts are not that bad if you communicate & prepare.
Luckily, my family started to come around a year after I became vegan and started planning what they would have that I can eat at their family functions. I believe if you communicate with everyone and prepare by maybe bringing your own dish, everything should be fine.
many black people want to learn more about plant based, but are afraid of societal views.
This breaks my heart, because so many people just want to be healthy but you get mocked for it. That goes for all things health and wellness. Once you start to focus on your mental health, your body, and diet, you are all of a sudden "too good" for the black community. (insert eye roll). Why is it that when we start to take care of ourselves from the inside out, its not praised by our people? Why is it a "betrayal" of the black community when we try to better ourselves? Don't you want to see black people thrive, have healthy minds, live longer and get rid of the health related diseases that are plaguing our communities? This might not be how most of the community feel, but this is what I have experienced in the last two years. I believe the only way to rise up above what we deal with today as a community is by first educating ourselves on how to be healthier, both mentally and physically.
What have you learned being black & vegan? Comment below and let me know!
