Tag: Black veganism

December 9, 2024 / Kevin Schmidt / 0 Comments

Vegan soul food is taking on the role of being more than just a trend; it is becoming a way of life that changes the way we think about our health and the planet. As I started to see all of the environmental impacts stemmed from traditional soul food, I discovered how plant-based alternatives can step in to help reduce harm while preserving all of the delicious cultural flavors. I later found a super popular spot in Portland, Sweetpea Baking Company, that seems to be leading the movement with delicious vegan soul food that celebrates African American culinary heritage and promotes a more sustainable future.

Image result for sweatpea baking company menu

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.9VjeOaPW_FBACM7D5q23TAHaE8?w=249&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.5&pid=1.7

In Portland, Oregon, Sweetpea Baking Company brings new life to classic soul foods using plant-based ingredients. They create the beloved comfort food without animal products in baked goods meals like, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens just to name a few. This helps African Americans take that step toward addressing the health issues linked to meat-heavy soul food diets, while still preserving culture. In addition to health benefits, vegan soul food offers a powerful solution to environmental challenges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R5owyyMsz0

This video How Animal Agriculture is Destroying Our Planet looks at the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, making it a no brainer that we need a solution, fast. Animal agriculture causes climate change, deforestation, pollution, and water depletion. Additionally, animal farming produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the world’s cars, planes, and trains combined. In choosing plant-based meals, we can reduce our carbon footprint and ease the pressure that is being put on natural resources. Along with decreasing animal agriculture, Sweetpea Baking Company is helping with this by sourcing ingredients locally, reducing waste production with eco-friendly packaging, and keeping the overall environmental impact of their food production as low as possible.

Sweetpea Baking Company combines African American culinary pride with a commitment to sustainability, providing a solution benefiting the community and the environment. Through plant-based cooking, local sourcing, and other sustainable practices, they’re helping people see that choosing vegan is beneficial for both your health and the environment.

In conclusion, vegan soul food is a win-win, supporting your health and the planet. Companies and Restaurants like Sweetpea Baking Company are showing how vegan soul food can be a powerful tool for change, mixing cultural pride with environmental responsibility. By adopting vegan soul food, we’re not just protecting our health, we’re also protecting the future of our planet.

Works Cited

“Sweetpea Baking Company ” About.” Sweetpea Baking Company RSS, sweetpeabaking.com/?page_id=2. Accessed 09 Dec. 2024.

“How Animal Agriculture Is Destroying Our Planet.” YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R5owyyMsz0. Accessed 09 Dec. 2024.

Https://Www.Bing.Com/Th?id=OIP.HShT4QohjVDDHwwwIiX…, www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.HShT4QohjVDDHwwwIiXWuQHaE1&pid=Api&rs=1. Accessed 09 Dec. 2024.

Are Vegans Really That Annoying?

December 9, 2024 / Nikola Babich / 0 Comments

“Research has shown that only drug addicts inspire the same degree of loathing (as vegans)”

Zaria Gorvett

As a multiethnic man growing up in Los Angeles, I was accustomed to both the street vendors selling tacos out of a tent and the whole foods across the street that sold outrageously expensive ingredients for people with any form of alternate diet. To me, veganism was just another one of those diets that my family and I deemed as “white people stuff.”

An exterior shot of Burrito King on Sunset Boulevard — The taco spot in my neighborhood featured in https://lataco.com/best-tacos-echo-park

Whole Foods opens first 365 store in Silver Lake - L.A. Business First — The whole foods 365 right down the block
https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2016/05/26/whole-foods-opens-first-365-store-in-silver-lake.html

Professor Lynn Johnsons class is the first time I introspectively challenged this belief as I learned about the history of African American food and culture. We started off by analyzing the origins of soul food where I learned about how soul dishes were ingeniously crafted from the leftover scraps which enslaved Africans struggled to acquire.

I then learned about the power connected to soul food and how it acted as a catalyst for bringing the black community together. During the Great Depression, The famous preacher and entrepreneur Father Major Jealous Divine served soul food at his sermons, drawing crowds for both his speeches and the communal meals. During the Civil Rights Movement, Peaches Soul Restaurant became a safe haven, providing food and shelter to activists. Even today, events like the Muskogee Soul Food Cookout in Oklahoma and the Chitlin’ Strut in South Carolina celebrate this shared heritage.

The 54th Annual Chitlin Strut in South Carolina (Click to see more)

Moving forward, we learned about the dangers of modern day soul food as recipes use tons of fats, oils, and preservatives causing the black community to be disproportionally affected by health defects. In Soul Food Junkies The documentary highlights that “The incidence of pancreatic cancer is 50-90% higher in African-Americans than any other race in the U.S.” (Soul Food Junkies 0:45:21). To combat these health issues, many African Americans donned a vegan diet which has been scientifically proven to lower the risk of different heart problems. Sadly, these same people who simply seek to improve the health of themselves and their communities are often shunned for a variety of reasons. Firstly, many members of the black community feel a disconnect from their vegan peers since they see a vegan diet as rejecting historically black food and traditions. Secondly, many vegans are perceived as stuck up. As time goes on, the evidence of animal mistreatment and the health benefits associated with veganism get more and more solidified and as a result, we view vegans who make a choice that we are not willing to make as irritating. Essentially, we view vegans as disconnected from our culture (white) and annoying/in our face (that vegan teacher).

Above is a popular soul food influencer making a classic soul dish of buttery cornbread, Deep fried chicken, and oily side dishes. Note the number of unhealthy aspects in this meal.

This reputation could not be further from the truth.

Did you know that Colin Kaepernick, Kyrie Irving, Serena and Venus Williams, Steve Harvey, Jay Z, and A$AP Rocky are all vegan. Probably not. All of these black celebrities’ and many more defy the stereotype while spreading their beneficial ethical and moral beliefs to anyone open to receiving them.

3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRY BEYONCE'S 22 DAY COACHELLA NUTRITION PLAN — Sound Nutrition — Beyoncé & JayZ team up with renowned health expert Marco Borges to make a vegan lifestyle more accessible to the public

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) — Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets donates 200,000 impossible burgers during covid to combat food insecurity

Ben & Jerry's launches new vegan flavour in honour of Colin Kaepernick | The Independent — Colin Kaepernick teams up with Ben and Jerry’s to bring a vegan ice cream to a broad consumer base.

So next time you see a vegan dish, feel free to try it without magically becoming white or annoying.

Works Cited

Abraham, Ellie. “Ben & Jerry’s Launches New Vegan Flavour in Honour of Colin Kaepernick.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 20 Apr. 2021, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/ben-jerrys-colin-kaepernick-ice-cream-b1834563.html.

Adame, Noe. “The Five Best Tacos in Echo Park ~ L.A. Taco.” ~ L.A. TACO, 23 Jan. 2024, lataco.com/best-tacos-echo-park.

Borges, Marco. “The 22 Days Nutrition Meal Planner.” The 22 Days Nutrition Meal Planner, mealplanner.22daysnutrition.com/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Camirra’s Kitchen. “SOUL FOOD THE RIGHT WAY! Buttermilk Fried Chicken | Mac & Cheese | Candied Yams Recipe.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7cXJaMkao. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Jackson, James S, et al. “Race and Unhealthy Behaviors: Chronic Stress, the HPA Axis, and Physical and Mental Health Disparities over the Life Course.” American Journal of Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2010, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2853611/#:~:text=RACIAL%20AND%20ETHNIC%20HEALTH%20DISPARITIES&text=For%20example%2C%20Black%20women%20are,expectancy%20of%20only%2066%20years.

Kasabian, Paul. “Nets’ Kyrie Irving Donates 200k ‘beyond Burgers’ to NYC Food Bank amid Covid-19.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 27 Mar. 2020, bleacherreport.com/articles/2883430-nets-kyrie-irving-donates-200k-beyond-burgers-to-nyc-food-bank-amid-covid-19.

Thomas, Kimber. “Peaches Restaurant.” Southern Foodways Alliance, 18 Sept. 2019, www.southernfoodways.org/interview/peaches-restaurant/.

Town of Salley. “54th Annual Chitlin Strut.” Town of Salley, chitlinstrut.com/this-past-strut. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

“Whole Foods Opens First 365 Store in Silver Lake.” Bizjournals.Com, www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2016/05/26/whole-foods-opens-first-365-store-in-silver-lake.html. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Slutty Vegan: Atlanta, Georgia

December 9, 2024 / Jay Penn / 0 Comments

Slutty Vegan is a restaurant located in Atlanta, Georgia, known for its creative and delicious vegan dishes. Pinky Cole, the owner of the restaurant, had a mission in starting her restaurant. She said, “Opening the conversation on vegan food options for people who have never considered them in this community that has such high numbers in hypertension, cholesterol, obesity, and a host of other food-borne ailments, is momentous.” Her mission was to not just serve food but to be a symbol of Black power. Throughout history Black Americans were only given the bare minimum, which was always unhealthy, and never had enough money to get access to better. That has all changed now thanks to Pinky Cole, her restaurant, and her foundation she is starting up. With her restaurant she has earned enough money to move away from simple food and began to expand by creating a foundation that helps underprivileged communities, especially Black communities, and build them up. Its aims to address systemic challenges by providing resources, education, and support for entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and generational wealth-building. One of the foundation’s notable efforts includes offering scholarships to students at historically Black colleges and universities.

Pinky Cole-Founder of Slutty Vegan

https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/pinky-cole-slutty-vegan-founder-clark-atlanta-commencement-address-llcs-gift/85-9c305a9c-e018-4609-893d-a5eff7f18e55

While the food itself is the star of the show, the restaurant stands out as an option for Black Americans who may not have previously had access to or considered plant-based dining. What makes Slutty Vegan so unique is its approach to vegan cuisine. It presents its dishes in a way that looks familiar and incredibly appealing by mimicking the appearance and flavors of traditional comfort foods like burgers and fries. This tactic of making vegan food look realistic serves an important purpose. For many people, the idea of trying plant-based food can feel unfamiliar or even unappetizing, especially if they are used to meat-heavy diets. By “disguising” vegan food to look and taste like traditional dishes, Slutty Vegan lowers the psychological barrier for people who are hesitant to step outside their comfort zones. The resemblance to familiar comfort foods makes vegan options feel less intimidating and more accessible, creating a bridge between traditional eating habits and a plant-based lifestyle. This approach not only makes veganism more appealing but also helps challenge stereotypes that plant-based food is bland, boring, or unsatisfying. Additionally, the realistic presentation of vegan food plays a crucial role in addressing cultural and societal barriers to adopting plant-based diets. In many communities, especially in Black culture, food is deeply tied to tradition, identity, and shared experiences. Slutty Vegan honors these cultural connections by recreating iconic comfort foods in a healthier, plant-based form. By doing so, it allows individuals to enjoy the flavors and experiences they grew up with while making choices that align with their health or ethical goals. This innovative approach has not only popularized veganism in Atlanta but also sparked important conversations about food justice, accessibility, and health within the Black community and beyond.

Food From Slutty Vegan

https://vegnews.com/slutty-vegan-nashville-florida-airport

Video of Pinky Cole Making ‘Slutty BBQ jerk tacos’

Slutty Vegan ATL. About Us, Slutty Vegan ATL, https://sluttyveganatl.com/about/.

Exploring the role of media towards appealing veganism to African American youth and women.

December 9, 2024 / Dahmhee Kim / 0 Comments

Scrolling through social media, it was difficult to overlook the eye-catching images of motivational posts from plant-based influencers. So I decided to examine how different media can influence people to become vegan, and how this affects the point of view of people.

Official Hip Hop Snack: Rap Snack

[Staff, MouthSoap, and MouthSoap Staff. “Rap Snacks to Be Distributed in Walmart, Teaming up With Slutty Vegan – the MouthSoap.” The MouthSoap – The Real Story Is The Best Story, 8 Nov. 2019, www.themouthsoap.com/rap-snacks-to-be-distributed-in-walmart-teaming-up-with-slutty-vegan.]

The magazine about Rap Snack which is available in Walmart and is having partnership with Slutty Vegan, triggers the psychological factor of youth. Youth tend to be sensitive towards trends, and interested in what the celebrities they love do. In the end, if it is easy and accessible they would follow what they do and this Rap snack is a perfect item for them. Hence, the promotion of rap snacks with Black artists guides the African American youth’s viewpoint towards changing towards veganism more positively.

Black Vegan Rock: Blogs

The BVR(Black Vegan Rock) Blog tells the story of African American people’s journeys to becoming vegans. A few African American women caught my attention by explaining how they became vegans and emphasizing the importance of being vegan in dragging people into veganism.

1. Clara Holmes – She has an inherited connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Surprisingly when she fully went vegan, it “shortened her recovery time”, and made her “gain more energy to support her physical and mental health” by just consuming a plant-based diet. This triggered her to avoid buying products that included leather, feathers, silk, and wool. @rollinfunky

[Instagram. www.instagram.com/rollinfunky.]

2. Lyssa Wade, aka Veggie Thumper– She didn’t have a straight-forward reason she turned vegan. However, as she experienced her dad’s sudden death, she decided to “eliminate processed food” and start eating garden plants they grew for herself and her family. Also, the trip to Peru has stimulated her to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle that as a result reduces the consumption of meat and increases the plant-based diet routine. Unlike other African American women, she slowly turns vegan. @veggiethumper

[Instagram. www.instagram.com/Veggiethumper.]

This information provided by the bloggers created empathy towards readers which was because either the reader is in a similar situation or got triggered to try a new pathway due to the fact it was interesting. Adding on to it, these people also emphasize the advantage of following a plant-based diet which also tears down the reputation of vegan food being tasteless.

Black Girls Gone Vegan by Gymnetics Fitness

[Gymnetics Fitness. “Black Girls Gone Vegan! Transition Your Body, Beauty, and Babies to Veganism in 30 Days.” YouTube, 8 June 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jxXJ2NUTuk.]

This video discusses the plant-based diet passed down through the generations and emphasizes the idea of “generation health being more than wealth.” Focusing on “generation health” leads people to feel sympathy, which can lead them to veganism.

By exploring the topic of Black veganism, I learn many perspectives of choosing vegan as their life method not only because of ethical and health problems but also more specific ideas such as improving inherited health problems and cumulative activity creating reason to pursue a plant-based diet. It was really interesting to learn a new topic that I never touched in my life.

I hope everybody get a chance to explore “Black Veganism” more!

BVR. “Blog — Black Vegans Rock.” Black Vegans Rock, 13 May 2022, www.blackvegansrock.com/blog.

“Fashion, Fitness and Travel Influencer – Rollin Funky.” Model & Lifestyle Content Creator | Rollin Funky, 20 Dec. 2023, rollinfunky.com.

Gymnetics Fitness. “Black Girls Gone Vegan! Transition Your Body, Beauty and Babies to Veganism in 30 Days.” YouTube, 8 June 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jxXJ2NUTuk.

Instagram. www.instagram.com/rollinfunky.

—. www.instagram.com/Veggiethumper.

Staff, MouthSoap, and MouthSoap Staff. “Rap Snacks to Be Distributed in Walmart, Teaming up With Slutty Vegan – the MouthSoap.” The MouthSoap – The Real Story Is The Best Story, 8 Nov. 2019, www.themouthsoap.com/rap-snacks-to-be-distributed-in-walmart-teaming-up-with-slutty-vegan.

“Veggie Thumper Vegan Foodtruck Iowa Home.” Veggiethumper, www.veggiethumper.com.