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!

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<Work Cited>

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.