Guest Post: Being Black and Vegan
by: Donna M. Beaudoin
When Toni of Black Girls RUN! asked me to do a post on “Being Black and Vegan,” I thought this would be an easy subject. After all, I’m black and vegan. There are so many streets and small twists-and-turns that this subject can walk-down. I speak about my non-acceptance and acceptance in the black community. I could speak about my acceptance or non-acceptance by non-blacks. I could speak about common illnesses in the black community that could be prevented, treated, and healed through a vegan lifestyle. I could speak about feeling weird, strange, or foreign as a black vegan living in the South. I could speak about how as a vegan and vegetarian, we become leaders and motivators within the black community to act as role models, to teach, to educate, to illustrate how this lifestyle can change one from living on medications and the world living in them – to living on plants to live in this world healthy and strong. All these subjects and more exist to create challenges. Challenges that help me and other vegans/vegetarians to grow and inspire others to lead this healthy lifestyle; consequently, I decided to speak on all the above subjects and how they intertwine living as a black vegan.
It’s funny how you would think that other ethnicities would see a black vegan as unusual; however, it was in the black community that I found the most “in-awe” moments and resistance to my lifestyle.
I grew up and lived the majority of my life in New Jersey, but moved to North Carolina 17 years ago. Although Northern major cities and California, where veganism and vegetarianism are commonplace and being a black vegan/vegetarianism does not seem as though, (to transpose the title of the 1984 movie “The Brother From Another Planet,” that I am a “Sista from Another Planet,”) we still have a long way to go in the black community, in all states, in accepting this lifestyle as an alternative to accepting the illnesses and diseases that we thought were genetic. Heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and certain cancers that have been prevalent in the black community for too long shouldn’t exist. Our beliefs that these diseases are just a part of life (or part of our family history), and that we should accept that it might happen to us, shouldn’t exist and should stop. Don’t believe the hype or the myths! To paraphrase the infamous saying, “DNA may be the loaded gun but what we eat can either pull the trigger or stop the gun from being fired.”
Living a healthy, plant-based lifestyle can influence and determine our health path – whether we end up in the grave early or lead a long, healthy life well into our 80s, 90s or 100s! I have met four people recently from 101 to 103 years old who are active and vibrant. One still works in her upholstery business that she founded years ago. My great-grandmother, who lived as a vegetarian later in life, lived to be 100 without the illnesses prevalent in the black community. It is possible to live long without the illnesses plaguing the black community!
Being a black vegan may pose its challenges. I frequently encounter negative comments from those who see my lifestyle as a threat to their status quo of eating unhealthy. All I need to say during a picnic or gathering is “I do not eat _______ because I am a vegan,” and it seems as though I just said a four letter word…not five. My reply to the various food offers, sometimes is even rebutted by hostile comments from those trying to defend their eating habits of fried and deep-fried foods, fast food meals, large consumptions of beef and chicken, and where the vegetables are in meat and cooked so long that no nutrients are left. I freely accept those comments and challenges if it means that I can influence one person to change their eating habits and put a dent into the statistics that black people are more prone to have and die from heart disease, diabetes, and strokes. I accept those challenges posed by non-vegans/vegetarians because it means that if I have influenced one person, I have made a big contribution to seeing someone become a part of the “walking living rather than the walking dead.” After all, it takes one person to form a chain reaction. Since becoming a vegetarian and then a vegan, I have influenced so many to take back their health. Faces I know and faces I don’t know that have been affected directly and indirectly.
Why are we so accepting of illnesses, and not so accepting of life without medication or little medication? I ponder this question frequently, especially after reading a statistic that black and Hispanic children are more prone to develop diabetes and have a weight issue than other children. We are not only killing ourselves with the wrong foods, but we are also sending our children to an early grave. Dr. David S. Ludwig, Director of the Obesity Program at Children’s Hospital Boston said it best in a health report and interview pertaining to children of all ethnicities, “Obesity is such that this generation of children could be the first basically in the history of the United States to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents…” Is this what we want in the black community? To live longer than our children? Or, even to leave our children parent-less? I can say as a black female, “No! This is not what we want.” As a black-vegan, I can also say. “No! This is not what we want.” Our heritage is a heritage of uplifting each other. Supporting one another. Moving through adversity. Climbing hills to get to the mountaintop in order to show our children (including nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors’ children, children we do not know) that they should have the opportunity to live their lives freely, healthy, and educated to become whomever they want. To restate my infamous statement on my blog, Sister Vegetarian, “it is time that illnesses and diseases are a period, rather than a continuous comma.” This is what we want! We want our children to live, healthily, to become presidents, astronauts, physicians, teachers, chefs, motivators, inspirers, leaders.
My challenges are not over as a black vegan in motivating the black community to lead this life. I started Sister Vegetarian to inspire and motivate people of all ethnicities to take back their health; but, through Sister Vegetarian’s blog and, my upcoming book release in February 2012 (by Lantern Books), I am able to reach an even wider audience.
My life as a black vegan (and anyone who lives as a black vegan or vegetarian) is tirelessly that as a role model. My actions, my writings, my movements, my breath…everything about me are watched. Everything about you is watched. People watch and listen. We are always serving as role models as black vegans and vegetarians whether you want that responsibility or not. It comes with the territory of living this healthy life. Accept it. Embrace it. Relish it! You do not need to do anything special, but just “Be” in Buddhist terms. “Be” a black vegan or vegetarian and you have already changed someone’s life. Someone’s life is being changed every second, minute, hour and/or day because you stood up for your beliefs and became a vegan or vegetarian, knowing that we can prevent, treat, and cure heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers, Alzheimer, arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, allergies, constipation, eye diseases, skin disease, and more.
So, what does it mean to be a black vegan or vegetarian? To be a black vegan (or, vegetarian) means that I/we have a responsibility to the black community to educate, to illustrate through our lives and actions, to teach, to support, to uplift, to inspire, and to motivate that living a plant based lifestyle means we can continue to move forward and upward rather than being stopped by illnesses and diseases common in the black community. That future leaders do not need to die early from illnesses and diseases commonplace in the black community.
How does it feel to be a black vegan? In my opinion, the best description of being a black vegan can be summed up in a quote by Zora Neale Hurston, “I have been in Sorrow’s kitchen and licked out all the pots. Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and sword in my hands.”
For more about Donna Beaudoin and her book, Sister Vegetarian’s 31 Days of Drama Free Vegetarian and Vegan Living, visit her website Sister Vegetarian.
Very well written and inspiring post! I am also African-American and live a vegan lifestyle (mostly raw actually). I, too, find that in some settings I stick out like a strange and not so welcomed thumb. But, also I am finding more and more women of color embracing raw food and clean eating and turning their backs on the foods that are killing us. With more films hitting the mainstream about nutrition, raw foods and GMOs the public is becoming more aware. Knowledge is power and I do try to do my part in spreading the healthy living, healthy food message.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been a pescatarian for a little over a month and haven’t looked back. I have also been on the receiving end of negative comments and raised eye brows. I pray others come to make a positive life change for the future of our children & community.
Thank you all for reading my post. Here’s a great article from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine on leading a vegan lifestyle: http://sistervegetarian.blogspot.com/2011/08/if-you-still-think-you-are-healthy-by.html
Thanks so much for posting this! I began as a vegetarian and became vegan and have been met with so much scrutiny and judgment by the community (I also reside in the South). While I do take on the role of education (that’s my profession) there are times when I just want to “be”. “Be” what I choose to “be” without question from others or the need to explain. I wonder if it is possible? Whether grudgingly or with enthusiasm, I do accept the role that I must assume with the decision that I’ve made. I accept the responsibility to share this lifestyle because it will save lives. Thank you for the words of encouragement along this journey.
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Thanks for sharing. I am trying my best to make healthy choices for myself and kids. We really need to take time and educate ourselves and be aware of what we are buying and feeding to ourselves and families.
Great post Donna!
I subscribe to your blog and I’m really looking forward to your book coming out next year.
Blessings!
I am also a pescatarian and slow making my way over to vegetarian world. I do find it hard when I go to family/social gathering and people cook with pork, beef, and chicken I don’t want to be rude ( I’ll just eat a salad or fruit) if they have it. Sometimes, I don’t show up to events when I know there will be food there or I might eat before I attend. I get the side eye also when I tell people about my diet and they laugh or crack jokes especially at work, and most of the people who hate are over weight. A friend told me before I made my change “STOP PUTTING PEOPLE HANDS IN YOUR STOMACH” YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.
PEACE AND BLESSING
STACY
Great post.
I’ve been vegetarian, vegan, and back to vegetarian. My sisters and I are teh only non-meat eaters in the family, and we’ve received negative comments from the very beginning. Can you imagine a Southern Christmas dinner, and you don’t eat anything on the menu? And when we cook out own vegan dinner, everyone wants to eat it. The family loves my vegan dressing and vegan green bean casserole, but they won’t even consider not eating a plate full of meat along side those dishes, and will still criticize and make fun of the way my sisters and I choose to eat. Its crazy, really.
With a history of diabetes and heart disease in my family, I just pray the younger generation chooses a healthier lifestyle.
Great post. I am black and vegan but really, I don’t get much flack from anyone. When I changed my diet to vegan, my family and friends all embraced it. I get the occassional joke thrown my way at family gatherings but other than that, nothing. People actually take great pains to ensure I have something to eat at gatherings. One of my moms friend is also vegan and shares his food creations with me and books on the subject.
As for my feelings on being black and vegan. I don’t feel anything much. All my friends are progressive and some have been vegan or vegetarian so I am never ridiculed. I have actually helped one friend change to a heavier plant based diet. Overall, being black and vegan in this part of Ontario, Canada (in my little world) has not been a problem. A lot of black Canadians are of West Indian descent (parents, grandparents) and a shocking amount of west indian meals are vegetarian without thought so amending to vegan most times is easy.
Well written, thoughtful post. I have been scaling back from meat more and more (down to one day a week – the day after a long run – of eating meat) – and am limiting my protein to fish. I feel so much better, especially during a run.
Thank you all for reading my post and sharing your vegan experiences. I love hearing others vegan stories. If you are in the Baltimore, MD/DC area on Oct 9th, come here me speak at 12:50 PM at the Baltimore, MD VegFest sponsored by Open The Cage Alliance. Here’s the VegFest link with my speaker info: http://www.openthecages.org/vegtoberfest/index.html
Have an awesome day! ~ Donna
[...] came across this post on Black Girls Run. I’ve actually been thinking about going vegetarian. I’m still debating [...]
Right on time Donna!! An awesome and well written post. Being black and vegan in the South is challenging like many others already expressed. And on top of that, I’m a west indian so double wamy there. We just had our employee appreciation here at a very large corporation with no fruits, veggies or salad so I did the only thing necessary and told my manager am leaving because I was hungry. I got word that it made him and the head man look like idiots since majority of my department knows my MO. On that Monday, he requested to have a meeting with me and noted it could have been handled differently yet stated he probably could not have done anything for me so after wasting precious time in a senseless meeting I walked out and attended another meeting. I did send an email to the head of the dept and him and I had a meeting that afternoon. Of course he said me leaving was acceptable and it could have been handled differently…well, the island in me did come out and he got it pretty good and I finally confirmed he’s an idiot when he said apple sauce was the fruit and the nasty slaw was the salad (SMH). I refused to acknowledge it was handled incorrectly and informed him if that occurs again, I will be leaving quietly like I did and the least they can do is have veggies, fruit and salad with the millions our company is spending on health awareness (he did say he looked like an idiot to everyone and the comments he got along with facial expressions where too much to bear..good for him). Hence, it is a challenge being black and vegan but I stand my ground by letting my overall wellness speak for itself and do educate when applicable (I work with 100% meat lovers and 99% of them are on all types of pills yet they screw up their face at eating a plant based diet—earthly foods–said they would die if they did not have mea..LOL).
Good bless you and the other black vegans out there. We are always being watched and in the spot like. Many want out excellent overall wellness but not our lifestyle (sounds too like something I’ve heard before). Vegan luv:)!
Thank you Earth-vibez ! You are truly living as a role model in the South! The South does pose challenges unlike other areas in the US where I come across in NC that people do not want to give up the southern favorites of bbq ribs and southern fried chicken in order to reclaim their health; but, I…you…we all are as vegans and vegetarians reaching one and many. Keep up the good work in spreading the news and information of how a plant based lifestyle can prevent, treat, and cure many illnesses and diseases. We are in a healthy revolution, and this message is reaching many. Let’s continue to stand up and teach others
Have an awesome day!
~ Donna “Sister Vegetarian”
We really likes this post and have been thinking about going vegetarian as well. We re-post this article for our readers on our blog as well. Great topic!!
I’m going to be the voice of controversy here ..lol I live in the land of vegetarians/vegans, the SF BAy Area and have several Black vegetarians in my family, so I am pretty familiar with the lifestyle.
Your article is very well written and you make some excellent points regarding veganism and the responsibility you choose to accept in educating others. However, it seems as if there is a bit of judgement towards meat eaters. Omnivorous people can lead healthy long lives as well there just has to be balance. I watch my diet very closely as there are health problems on both sides of my family and I am hit with a double wammy being Black/Latina, I’m “genetically” predisposed to way too many diseases . Most American’s view meat as the primary focus of a meal not an accompaniment. Eating too much meat coupled with the over consumption of processed foods and drinks has been a primary cause of lifestyle related diseases not just eating meat in general.
From what I have read the biggest killer of our people is not neccessarily meat, its too much sugar its is in everything from cereal and sodas to energy/supplement bars and pasta sauce. I know vegetarians who were 50 plus pounds overweight and had health related issues because they were eating too much sugar.
*steps off soap box* lol
I commend all of us for leadings healthy lifestyles this means balance whether you are vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or omnivorous. Remember people are going to judge what they are unfamiliar with so continue to educate regarding making healthy choices.
~Chelsea SF Bay Area Ambassador
Dang I wish there was an edit button lol
From what I have read the biggest killer of our people is not neccessarily meat in moderation*, its too much sugar its is in everything from cereal and sodas to energy/supplement bars and pasta sauce. I know vegetarians who were 50 plus pounds overweight and had health related issues because they were eating too much sugar
I agree with CMoni. I think the real overall problem is lack of balance in the way we eat. You can be unhealthy with any kind of diet if you eat too much of one particular thing.
This was a wonderful article. I too am a black female vegetarian and have been for the last year and I can say that it has made my life 100 times better health wise. II also get the strange questions during work meetings when they order in lunches and they treat me as though I eat a diet no one has heard of. This is how everyone should bee eating. It’s a form of purification and cleansing for the insides. I have always wanted to incorporate running into my lifestyle and have not figured a way to get into it. I reside in Virginia and I found two groups in Hampton Roads and UVA. Hopefully one will form in the Richmond or Williamsburg area as I live in between the two.
Great Post,
I’m also am black and vegan, and when you tell people that you don’t eat meat, they look at you as though you have two heads! When you explain to them the reason why, there are some that get it and some that don’t! I continue to educate the to my family and friends the reason to eating healthy.
I can’t even explain how this article gives me such great hope and inspiration. I’m currently trying to move toward a vegetarian, then vegan lifestyle. After having surgery to have fibroids removed and then having new ones emerge, I’ve found discovered the role food can play in your life. I’m ready to have it play the role of supporting a long and active life, not one plagued with ailments and disease. It’s not been easy so far…I’m trying to reverse years of bad eating habits, but I know I can do it. And, I wil! Thanks, Donna and BGR for getting this information out to us ladies!