Bias Check: We Need To Talk About Black Veganism

I’ve always played around with the thought of going vegan.

But, then a bunch of questions start to swirl around in my head.

“Wow, can I really give up griot? I don’t think any Haitian food is truly vegan.”

“Wait, does that mean my food won’t have flavor?”

“Am I about to eat the same thing every day?”

“Also, are there any other Black vegans that I know in my circle?

“All I know is that Beyonce is a vegan and I can’t call her for advice. Can I slide into her DMs maybe?”

As you can see, the switch to veganism isn’t only a food thing. It’s also a cultural thing. Honestly, when I used to think of the word “vegan,” it just doesn’t fit into the puzzle of being Black for me. I was raised on a pretty animal-sourced protein diet. My parents aren’t heavy meat eaters but they are Caribbean.

So, all the animal by-products were on my table for most of my life.

Also, beyond food, what about household items?

Is Shea Moisture vegan? But, that seems like a discussion for another day.

Food is culture and culture is food. But, how do I go about disrupting this idea that Blackness and veganism don’t go together? It was time to check my biases so I started click-clackin’ on the internet to start busting some of my myths and biases.

If you are like me, you know that transitioning to veganism is a thing but you aren’t quite sure how that works as a Black person.

Let’s bust some myths together.

Bias #1: I don’t think veganism and Blackness are culturally compatible.

So, this is a bias that I started slowly popping out of once I started college. But, it’s an ever-evolving thought process that I have to keep learning about and checking myself for. I took a class on Rastafarianism when I was in undergrad (hey Professor Meeks!). Although I’m no expert after taking one class, I was definitely surprised to learn that tenets of Rastafarianism and veganism go hand in hand. Avoidance of meat and other animal products can also be found in teachings of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem and the Nation of Islam. 

So, college and the Times continues to teach me that veganism has very much so been in the realm of Blackness. Also, there are dope websites that highlight individuals who are very much Black and very much Vegan.

Bias #2: The recipes are not accessible.

Ever since I moved away for school, I’ve been a big fan of meal prepping. In fact, Budget Bytes is one of my favorite blogs for cheap recipes that finish faster than people run away in the #DontLeaveMeChallenge. But, if I went vegan, would my whole routine be disrupted? Not necessarily! Now, I don’t think that I would be able to jump from being an eater of animal by-products to Beyonce in one day. But, I don’t think it’s as complicated as I was making it out to be. Like anything, it takes planning and research. There are awesome resources  out there that make sure that I can keep on making recipes that speak to my budget and my culture.

Bias #3: Veganism is a lifestyle change aiming to help the environment.

When I heard someone say they were vegan, I often assumed that they were going above and beyond to help out Mother Earth. But, veganism in the Black community is also linked to food justice. In our communities, we find more food deserts. Less supermarkets and more fast food chains and liquor stores. Black veganism pushes back against eating what society deems is “appropriate” for our community to eat. It’s also about re-thinking our cultural norms.

Why do we eat the things that we do? Is that helping us or hurting us?

So, I am still learning more and more about veganism each day. I don’t know if veganism is in the near future for me. But, I could definitely see myself attempting a few recipes as well as learning more about this health and social justice movement.

Also, Tabitha Brown.

Have you ever considered becoming a ‘baby’ Vegan?