Sistah Vegan: Black Women Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society

by A. Breeze Harper (Editor), pattrice jones (Afterword)

Sistah Vegan is a series of narratives, critical essays, poems, and reflections from a diverse community of North American black-identified vegans. Collectively, these activists are de-colonizing their bodies and minds via whole-foods veganism. By kicking junk-food habits, the more than thirty contributors all show the way toward longer, stronger, and healthier lives. Suffering from type-2 diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and overweight need not be the way women of color are doomed to be victimized and live out their mature lives. There are healthy alternatives. Sistah Vegan is not about preaching veganism or vegan fundamentalism. Rather, the book is about how a group of black-identified female vegans perceive nutrition, food, ecological sustainability, health and healing, animal rights, parenting, social justice, spirituality, hair care, race, gender-identification, womanism, and liberation that all go against the (refined and bleached) grain of our dysfunctional society. Thought-provoking for the identification and dismantling of environmental racism, ecological devastation, and other social injustices, Sistah Vegan is an in-your-face handbook for our time. It calls upon all of us to make radical changes for the betterment of ourselves, our planet, and by extension everyone.

Genres: Vegan, Nonfiction, Feminism, Food, Race, Health, Social Justice

232 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Zanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a personal story, which you are welcome to skip I first read about this book in the first issue of Bitch magazine I ever read, which featured an interview with Dr A. Breeze Harper, the instigator and gatherer and editor of the project and collection. At the time I read the article I was steadily cutting dairy from my diet under the influence of a silent interior impulse. I obeyed that bodily demand unevenly, but I could not become a vegan, because I felt that if I did I would be joining the race/gender-blind folks at PETA and endorsing re-presentations of violence that I knew were themselves harmful. I have always been inclined to follow my training and think in binaries: oppressed and oppressor and I thank the writers I have read, Black and Indigenous women and men, who have helped me to decolonise a little way, enough to begin to see beyond binaries, to see both/and, to think a llittle through other ways than Whiteness. Breeze Harper set me free from a facet of my own racism. I saw that I could reject Whiteness and be vegan at the same time. I bought the book, went vegan, subscribed to and became a supporter of Bitch, and now I have finally read this.

Harper explains that the impetus for the project was sparked by the reaction of Black Americans to a campaign by PETA that compared animal exploitation to slavery. She felt, I think, that the anger and hurt of those people deserved an answer from vegans who shared the history PETA had callously appropriated. The answer would not, could not, be simple, it could not be made by a single person or a unitary voice, it could not be made as an admonition. It could only be offered like this gift, a patchwork quilt stitched by women who do not even agree on such deep matters as animal liberation, healing and health, but who share critical resistance to the framing of veganism by Whiteness in the USA. It had to be a sheltering skein of uneasy personal knowings, histories, convictions, beliefs.

Many of the writers, including Harper herself, write about the scandal of racialised health inequalties in the USA. 'Post industrial soul food' traditions combined with poverty and poor access to affordable healthy food are, Harper points out, while indicting white supremacy past and present (not least for imposing unsuitable white eating habits) for the situation, severely affecting the health and life-expectancy of Black USians.

Another matter necessarily addressed here is the image of the body widely used to promote health generally and veg*n diets in particular: the thin white female body. This image is challenged here by several writers and by a forum set up by Harper for women of colour vegans & aspiring vegans to discuss the issue. Clearly, decolonising veganism must involve rethinking the healthy body. The discussion is not dominated by confident affirmations of Black full figured health, but of painful work through negative feelings, experiences of racism and fat-shaming, uneasy relationships with food and exercise as these women struggle to free themselves from the hegemonic optics of 'beauty' and 'health'. The work is hard. You don't throw off oppression the day you recognise it. You battle with it, maybe all your life.

While the journeys away from meat eating here involve struggle, they also often lead to new joy, feelings of wholeness and wellbeing, relief from ailments like menopausal flushes, renewed interest in food and eating, loving affirmation of Black life in connection with the living Earth. Calls for this better life to be made more accessible and affordable to more Black USians are made by those who know from experience how good plant based eating feels.

I was moved to read Harper's explanation of antebellum slavery as the maintenance of the White Euro/USian addiction to sugar, and the ongoing suffering of mostly Black farm workers in areas such as the Dominican Republic to supply the commodity in vast quantities to the US market. By writing about this in parallel with animal exploitation, she demonstrates both that veganism is part of an intersectional awareness of compassionate consumption and that human suffering cannot be excluded from the consciousness that leads people to a compassionate diet. If you care about the non-human animal suffering to furnish your plate but not the human (of colour) farm-worker likewise being harmed, how can you call your diet compassionate?

Thus, Harper's framing of veganism, also elaborated by other writers, especially Tara Sophia Bahna-James in her brilliant piece 'Journey Towards Compassionate Consumption: Integrating Vegan and Sistah Experience', joins the dots between eating vegan for ahimsa and for health, for environmental justice and for the environment as end in itself. To me this holistic reasoning to embrace a plant based diet has always been essential: when asked why I eat this way I always reply "all the reasons", but this lazy conversation-stopper glosses over the true diversity of ways through which people come to and live veganism, a truth that this book restores. There is no finality here, no straight answer, no unity, and that roughness and openness both emphasises the centrality and tender intimacy of eating in our lives and thus the need for compassion to all and respect for the autonomy of others, and carries the project's import beyond its grounding in the specificity of Black female USian vegans, to all of us who want to reduce the harm we do.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to get this book as soon as I saw it - it seems very rare to come across a book about vegans from an African American woman's perspective. I've enjoyed the vegans of color blog and recently picked up Vegan Soul Kitchen, but I had yet to come across anything specific to African American women. And after reading, I think this is a great anthology. I was impressed with the diversity of experiences in the book and it was nice to find some voices that I could relate to. If you are a vegetarian or vegan and a woman of color, you will certainly find some connections here.

Most informative to me were the essays that focused on African American health. Many authors highlighted the undeniable link between health concerns in the black community and poor diets. Some authors also highlighted animal rights. While becoming a vegetarian and vegan to me had never been explicitly about animal rights, I discovered new perspectives the authors espoused on doing no harm to other living creatures. All in all this was a great read - informative, fun, accessible, and encouraging. You will surely see yourself in it and learn something new, no matter how long you have been a vegan.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are several essays in this book that every vegan, no matter what their gender or racial identity, should read. Access to healthy food is a civil rights issue, and as several writers make devastatingly clear, many communities of color are paying the ultimate price in America's "food deserts."

Fresh fruits and vegetables aren't subsidized at nearly the same levels as meat and dairy is by our government, and they aren't on the menu at the fast food outlets and convenience stores that may be the only sources of nutrition in many African-American and Latino communities. Is it any wonder that the diseases caused by heavy lifelong consumption of meat and junk food--heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc.--affect these communities in disproportionate numbers? Yet even the most dedicated human rights campaigners often don't see the enemy within.

Not every essay in this book was wonderful--personally, I could have done without the New Age mommies who refuse to vaccinate their children against preventable deadly diseases. Argh! It is my hope that people don't mistake this bizarre philosophical offshoot as a tenant central to veganism, because it certainly is not.

[Jessica Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this book has been mind-blowing. I consider myself a socially conscious person, yet I've never questioned my consumption of sugar or coffee. Reading the chapter written by Breeze Harper was eye-opening, to say the least.

Hearing other black vegan women's perspectives on their lives as vegans has been refreshing, especially in light of the loud voices of middle-class white vegans.

[Samantha]

I recently took the 30 day vegan challenge beginning August 1, 2017. I asked people on Instagram friends/followers for information, suggestions, recipes, etc. An old high school classmate who has embraced the vegan lifestyle, immediately responded and suggested I read, Sistah Vegan: Food, Identity, Health, and Society: Black Female Vegans Speak by A. Breeze Harper. I purchased the audible version (I like to listen to books as I commute to and fro work) and I can honestly start by saying, “I WAS NOT ready.” Sistah Vegan is an anthology of essays and poetry on the black female thought regarding veganism. This book clearly depicted perspectives of veganism I did not know existed. It was undoubtedly an educational experience, that I enjoyed.

Ahisma veganism, environmental veganism, health reasons veganism, veganism to fight the oppression of racism, veganism and body consciousness, speciesism…



I was blind. I had no knowledge. I had no idea there were so many levels to veganism.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone going vegan, because it is such an interesting educational experience. I was disappointed by the narration of the book, because there was only ONE narrator….



One narrator performing each piece added a mundane feeling to listening experience. Some of the perspectives were so passionate and strong that the narrators performance took away from the conviction of feelings being portrayed. I’m not saying the narrator was bad. I am saying that the inflections and tone of her voice did not match each piece. Never-the-less, the learning was exceptional.

That being said, below are my top 7 moments of learning from listening to the audible version of, Sistah Vegan:

1. Chapter 4 - Delicia Dunham! This chapter is a prime reflection that one narrator cannot truly reflect the voice of the writer. Delicia to me sounds almost militant to me when she describes her thoughts on veganism. There fire in her passion to be vegan, so much so that she came for Russell Simmons. She tells the reader in so many that Russell refers to himself as vegan, yet allegedly manufactures leather sneakers. I have yet to research, whether or not this is true, but when I heard the words come through the audible, I was like…



Did she just call out Russell Simmons? Yes, she just called out Russell Simmons.

2. Speciesism? If this is your first time hearing that word, then possibly you felt as confused as I did.



I chose to take the 30-day vegan challenge for health reasons. I have never been a huge environmentalist or animal rights person, but the more I learn about how animals are treated for the mass production of meat, I can’t help but feel a bit sympathetic. This term, “speciesism” was and still remains new to me. I don’t know how to fully embrace the term and at this point in time, because I grew up in Christian faith and was always taught that man was given dominion over the earth. However, I don’t know how to walk away from the term speciesism, because even if man was given dominion over the earth it doesn’t mean he has to mistreat and kill animals for financial gain.

3. Chapter 18 - Indian Gravy….you mean there is a gravy made without flour and water? I not a major foodie, my palate is limited to a small variety of foods, so honestly…



But gravy made with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and other spices does sound appealing to me. I’ll have to try it.

4. Chapter 3 - Most Native American, Asians, and Africans-Americans are primarily more lactose intolerant than white people. I definitely didn’t know about this, but it just leads to me to another questions…



5. Chapter 1 - Cows are fed a protein mixture containing other ground cows.




6. Chapter 21, by Adama, her father tells her, “You better eat everything on your got damn plate or I’ll beat your got damn ass!” This was said to Adama after she realized meat was an animal, and thereby she told her mother that she no longer wanted to eat meat. Her mother told her father and he berated Adama at the dinner table. Those words made my heart break a little bit, because of this common forceful nature of African-American parenting is not unfamiliar in black culture. Her father’s gesture was seemingly stemmed from misunderstanding, but it felt as if it possibly crucified a significant portion of a Adama’s natural intuition to do something she felt was right for her body. Ofcourse, she eventually became vegan because she was a contributor to this book, but this incident still had me all in my feelings y’all. I felt sad. I didn’t like it.

7. Chapter 20 – “Why is your pussy so sweet?”



O.k. I really like it when books make me laugh out loud, but I have learned I especially love, when books make me go, "Oh my, what did they just say?"



From the research I’ve done on this journey I’ve heard that veganism can eliminate body odor, but I hadn’t heard much on its affects to bodily juices. After being a bit shocked, I just about died with laughter over this one.

So there you have it. These are a few of the remarkable moments I experienced reading, Sistah Vegan. I liked the book. I believed the information was a great learning experience. For various reasons, I don’t believe I can feel the same about food again. I would have given this book 4 starts, but I am taking one away just because of the “one narrator.”

[Sarah Rogers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite excited to delve into "Sistah Vegan", to immerse myself within diverse voices on the margins of veganism. I wish the collection of essays lived up to my expectations. I found some essays well-written, informative, and powerful, but most were rather repetitive both internally and with respect to the other essays. In this way, the voices within the book were not as diverse as I'd hoped. I found the book relatively unchallenging in content for well-read SJW vegans, and sometimes dangerously anti-science. That being said, this book is a must for someone newly exploring veg*nism, as the ideas discussed within are absent in most vegan writings. I am grateful to have "Sistah Vegan" on the shelves to initiate dialogue surrounding intersectionality and black women's experiences surrounding veganism, health, body image, and society as a whole.

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a book filled entirely with Black vegan women, invested in discussing not only animal rights, but also racism, classism, environmental justice, and food justice was super validating for me, as a person who's told all to often that I'm not "Black enough." Too bad it was penned by mostly academic cis women, many of whom seemed far too invested in ad hoc Afrocentric rituals based on the sanctity of the womb and some other gender essentialist, cissexist nonsense, to make room for the existence of anyone who might be queer, who might be trans, or who just don't relate to the classroom, after years of being told we don't make the cut.

[Javi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Embarrassing. Some of the book's flaws include:
* A few authors using weird definitions of veganism (claiming it's exclusively about food or talking about "vegans who drink milk")
* An incredible amount of anti-science and extremely strange beliefs. Some authors openly defend not vaccinating their children, whose immune systems they "protect with garlic and lemon". At some point, it's said that microwaves are unhealthy. Another author talks about how we're being "poisoned since we're born, down to our DNA". There are a lot of different statements like these throughout the book.
* At some point, an author says she "would not stop everyone from eating meat" if she could, because people have "the right to do what they want with their bodies". How someone can write that and not think about the bodily autonomy of the animals being killed an eaten, in a book about veganism, is beyond me.

Some chapters were interesting, but the book as a whole is a mess. I usually give bad books about veganism at least 3 starts because hey, maybe someone will find them enjoyable and informative and learn something. With this one, I wouldn't want any nonvegans to read this and think that veganism is about... energy crystals and reiki. I think it's totally possible to criticize the structural racism in the US' health system and FDA food recommendations while still believing modern medicine isn't a scam trying to "poison you with chemicals".

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The perspectives of vegans of color (and particularly vegan women of color) are much needed in our overall discussion of animals and health and the environment. Unfortunately the amateurish writing in most of the essays was a major turnoff. I wish that Harper had been able to enlist more WOC with writing experience. I did appreciate the diversity of the contributors (even if I was bored to tears by discussions of religion, pregnancy, and other topics that have no bearing on my experience) and that they often didn't agree. On the one hand it was great to see WOC in a space where they could display a diversity of opinion, but on the other hand I felt some of the essays reinforced certain stereotypes about the black female experience. There was nothing at all to speak to any WOC who might be queer, areligious, or simply not at all into "traditional" cultural markers of black American identity.

I would never discourage anyone from reading this book if they were interested, of course, I just wish it had been better. If nothing else, it has opened the door for more books on the topic. Hopefully those will be better executed.

[Pam Glazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cool in establishing a feeling of "hey, there's different people just like me." But it did little to bring the "real life" of veganism into its pages. It's a series of essays about cultural experience.

I found the "Brown Vegan" blog to be much more relatable in terms of finding out how veganism can work within your life without you starting off as a perfect yoga herbivore. Plus, Monique, the Brown Vegan herself, has recently created a book of her own that helps guide the transition to a more plant-based lifestyle while dealing with real issues (such as budgets, family meals, etc). I recommend that one if you're looking for more of a plan.

[Radia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate this book for what it is but there are things I don't agree with. I still do not think it is okay to equate the suffering of people with that of animals. I don't think it's ok to assume fatness is unhealthy (although an essay at the end pushed back against this.) I don't think not vaccinating your kids in the name of veganism is ok. All that being said, I will probably become vegan when that is possible for me, partially because of this book, partially because of my own awakening. I liked that is wasn't from a white perspective.

[Denise Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must have book for those transitioning to vegetarianism or veganism. You do not have to be african american to enjoy this book. It allows you to see why different people have chose this lifestyle and why it works for them.

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lit of expectations reading this book, often conflicting. Like, I both wanted to hear really strong anti-meat and animal products arguments, but I also cringed at the thought of reading "another angry vegan" rant. I really respect that this anthology contained a little of it all. The angry pieces were alright, but I was most moved by a piece about looking within and learning to listen to what your body wants. And also breeze's compilations of women's thoughts around body size and vegan ism. I've been vegetarian for a few years and usually cook vegan. It's just so important to get these stories told, most importantly from strong women of color. I appreciated their honest and willingness to disagree. I also appreciate the histories (soul food, Jamaican food, west African food, etc) the authors lifted in each essay.

[Lilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books of essays by many people can be such a mix, and this is. enough so that I would recommend the book wholeheartedly to very few, but the last essay, by Tara Sophia Bahna-James, to everyone.

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid collection of essays by vegan Black women which address, in great depth and breadth, issues surrounding bodies, identity, race, class, feminism, families, health, decolonization, environmentalism, compassion, and so much more. I appreciated the diversity of perspectives represented; many of the essays resonated with me strongly, while others I had some disagreement with (there are a couple anti-vax mentions) but still appreciated the opportunity to hear those points of view and think about them in the context of racism and decolonization. I would certainly recommend this book to vegans and people exploring veganism, but I actually think that non-vegans advocating for racial justice would especially benefit from this book. Whether or not veganism is the right choice for you personally, I think you'll find that the perspectives and ideas generated in this book speak to racial justice and Black empowerment in a very deep, personal, thought-provoking way.

cw: I had to skim past a couple sections that detailed violence against animals (I'm already vegan and don't need the horror stories anymore!).

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first discovered that there was a book dedicated solely to the voices of Vegan Women of Color and their stories I was overjoyed and Sistah Vegan did not disappoint. I enjoyed the diverse narratives in the book, even if I didn't agree with all of the opinions expressed, I will always go back to it whenever I question my Veganism.

[Karly Kaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book filled with incredible women's stories of food and their personal lives. It made me really consider what products I consume and who I buy them from. I am choosing to go vegetarian and maybe one day vegan due to this book and others I'm reading for my Feminist Food Studies class. Interesting experiences coming from eat of these writings. I really enjoyed reading them all.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THIS is the vegan anthology I've been waiting for!  A. Breeze Harper gathers the thoughts and ideas of multiple black female vegans ad uses them to create a complex, multi-faceted look at the whole foods trend.  Some women deny the label vegan, other women profess a holistic lifestyle, some women worry about the neocolonialism of consumerism today, others discuss what health means to them--as well as the doctors they no longer visit!  

This variety of perspectives is wholly necessary in this conversation--especially a variety of perspectives that do not include white voices, who have been the dominating voice of the movement!  Being able to read from these new perspectives opened up a whole new line of thinking for myself.  Certainly there were much-debated discussions such as the comparison of animals to lynching and slavery (yikes), but there were discussions I'd never even seen before, such as the dichotomy between the desire and need for fine furs after having been oppressed for so long, or by having to prove one's blackness, as well as the other side of the conversation that argues that fine furs are ultimately harmful and perhaps a new form of neocolonialism.  How does one even untangle that in one's mind?  These ladies did it beautifully.

What was also so intriguing to me was how many women brought up Queen Afua's books and how they completely transformed their manner of viewing the world and what they put into their bodies.  If Queen Afua did that for so many of our authors, then it's entirely possible for A. Breeze Harper to do that for many other women--and I for one hope she does!

This collection was insightful, educating, and overall just plain good.  Regardless of how long you've been a part of the vegan movement, this is a necessary book to read.  It's so incredibly valuable and so far, I haven't read anything else that compares in this area of the movement.

Review cross-listed here!

[Magali · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read but was a little too focused on health for my taste. You can have a very unhealthy diet while being vegan and a very healthy one while still eathing animal products. I get that it was about why each writer did chose the vegan diet but I would have loved more stories about people that mainly chose it for ethics... At times, I felt like the whole "let's eat vegan to be healthier" was kind of used to try to convince the reader to try the vegan diet. But as a fat vegan woman, it kinda made me feel disconnected from the books and its authors.

I really liked learning more about food desert and how Black people are eating in the USA. As a french white woman I have a lot to learn about those subjects and many essays in this book touched on it.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories, poems and essays on Black women and being vegan. Definitely has me thinking outside the box.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is important to hear the perspectives of the writers in this anthology. Great read.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5

[Brigitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many great essays in here that challenge the stereotype of veganism as a white, middle class diet. This is so needed in the vegan community. But I struggled with other essays that were anti-vaccine, etc.

[Raoum Bani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever asked someone why they're vegetarian/vegan please read this book.

You have to keep an open mind while reading this book to truly get the benefits of it and learn new perspectives. I have been a vegetarian for over four years now, and thinking about becoming vegan, that's why I purchased this book, but I found that this book contains much more than veganism. It talks about how nonwhite vegans have a hard time being accepted by their communities, as being vegan is considered "a white thing" where in fact, being vegan is much more than that.

This book gathers different essays and stories from different black identified females and each chapter has its own interesting perspective. I thought that I knew a lot about healthy living and veganism, but this book loaded my brain with new knowledge and information to google. For example, I've known for a while how bad refined sugar is for us and how it is addictive, what I didn't realize is that many farm lands are occupied by sugar farms, where they should be replaced with other crops such as vegetables and fruits as they contain a lot of nutrition that can feed this hungry world, where sugar does not have any nutritional value, but it is being grown increasingly over the years to feed this world's addiction to sugar. Furthermore, it's not just sugar, coffee (which I love so dearly) tea, and refined carbs have the same negative impact on this world. Food is more complicated than what we think, in a way it is also and an ethical, political and economical issue. As in one of the chapters one of the sistahs talks about Dunkin Donuts and their slogan "America runs on Dunkin" in other words, America runs on coffee and sugar. How bad does that sound! And sadly, how true it is. What's more upsetting, is that now the rest of the world is following the same lead. I'm afraid that it won't be long before their slogan will be "The World Runs on Dunkin"

Eating meat makes me feel less of a human, as this book and other vegans refer to it, it's dead flesh. I personally don't see why we need to murder animals when there are so many other options to consume that are better for our bodies, the human race, the environment, and the economy. It takes at least 5x more water to produce meat than it is to produce crops. Not to mention that forests are being stripped down and replaced with animal fields. We need forests to clean the air and water much more than we 'need' meat fields. Mindful consumption goes far beyond focusing on your food while you eat, think before you buy something where it came from and how it was produced, and most importantly if it will have a positive impact or not.

I have been vegetarian since my first year of college so I forgot how meat made me feel until I read this book and research this issue further. Meat when it is consumed it stays in our digestive system for days and cause constipation in most cases. Besides, how harmful it can be on our bodies if consumed raw or undercooked. I believe that is because humans are herbivores and eating meat slowly kills us because it contains cholesterol and saturated fat. On the other side, some would argue that the only way we can get vitamin B12 is by consuming food derived from animals. However, that is a myth. B12 is produced naturally by our digestive system, some people are ill and cannot produce sufficient amounts of B12, that is why it is also found in natural soil, but now a days most soils are not organic which leads me to my other point that B12 is now fortified in most of our food (including meat, they inject the animals with B12 so it contains more when made into meat). Bottom line, we don't need to eat animal based food to be healthy.

Even if you're not considering being vegan/vegetarian I suggest reading this book as it talks about issues farther than that perspective. It truly opened my mind.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this book was a good read and I enjoyed some sections a lot. Others I not only didn't agree with, but sort of cringed at, but still I respect the opinions and lived experiences of all the contributors. The following are some of my favorite excerpts.

"William Dufty, author of Sugar Blues, is convinced that yearly increases in sucrose (refined cane sugar) and beet sugar consumption are the reason why emotional disharmony - such as depression - has drastically risen within the United States. Likewise, from historical times to the present, the First World initiated civil unrest and legalized slavery-starting in the 1700s-to get our fix of sugar products. In addition, we've taken fertile land and used it to grow a plant of which the end product for a majority of people in the United States is a nutritionally deficient substance. Sugar consumption in the US has gone from ten pounds per year per person in 1821 to 150 pounds per person." - p. 22

"To give you some more perspective on how much water is used in animal farming, here are some statistics: 1. Five times as much water is used for irrigation to grow animal feed grains compared to fruits and vegetables. 2. 4,500 gallons of water are needed to produce a quarter pound of raw beef. 3. 8,500 square miles is the size of the dead zone created in the Gulf of Mexico by fertilizer runoff carried by the Mississippi River from the upper Midwest. 4. 17 trillion gallons is the amount of irrigation water used annually to produce feed for US livestock." - p. 25

"It stretches the imagination to conceive how fast the timeless rainforests of Central America are being destroyed so Americans can have seemingly cheap hamburgers. in 1960, when the US first began to import beef, Central America was blessed with 130,000 square miles of virgin rainforest. But now, only 25 years later, less than 80,000 square miles remain. At this rate, the entire tropical rainforests of Central America will be gone in another forty years." - p. 27

"Walker is well known within the vegan community for her foreword to the book The Dreaded Comparison by Marjorie Spiegel, in which she writes: The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than Black people were made for whites or women for men." - p. 46

"I am aware of the controversial PETA display, "Animal Liberation", which incited controversy for using images and language that simultaneously address contemporary animal suffering and the human suffering that has occurred during some of the most abominable periods in human history -among them African enslavement, the Jim Crow era, and the Holocaust. Critics of this display believe that there is no comparison to be drawn between these horrific crimes against humanity and the appalling treatment of nonhuman animals today. To them, not only does this comparison diminish the significance of the historic events, it is racist, insulting, and culturally insensitive. After all, haven't the dominant cultures always considered us less than human and compared us to animals as a way of humiliating and dehumanizing us? Sadly, PETA's critics have missed the point. PETA's intent is not to imply that Black, Jewish, or Native American people are viewed by PETA or should be viewed by anyone as subhuman. The desired result of these images is to evoke compassion, to help people empathize with the experiences of animals as victims of oppression, just as they would, and for some of the same reasons, with the humans depicted in the display." - p.55 and 56

"Veganism cultivates an attention to minute details of food ingredients, clothing labels, and how the things you consume are produced. This mindfulness leads to the deepest investigation of all things you consume, not only as to their material content but also the conditions in which the products are manufactured, their ecological impact, and the standard of living they create for all those on the chain of raw material, manufacturing, selling, buying, and disposing." - p. 75

"But in India beset with far too many people and animals to feel for, I realized the ridiculousness of the exchange. Each glimpse of suffering, I realized, was a way of paying my dues, allowing myself to feel human for a moment, before continuing on with my day. This kind of pity was not compassion, for it was useless and coma-inducing whereas compassion is active and equalizing. It may be possible to practice ethical behaviors without real compassion, but it is not possible to *really* feel compassion and not act ethically. Compassion writes laws and provides shelter and builds houses. Pity is a masturbatory exercise for the privileged. It is self-conscious, self-reflective, and limited. It considers weeping and then moves on." - p. 160

"We are forced to raise our voices to opt *out* of having our shampoos sprayed in rabbits' eyes, *out* of pus-laden bovine hormone being sprayed into our coffee cups, *out* of feeding our children jellybeans bursting with horse byproducts, *out* of eating party snacks laced with feces of downed cows. Never *in*. When was the assumption made that I was among the masses who were fine with this? When was it determined that the *masses* are fine with it?" - p. 164

"On the contrary, when we come to understand suffering, it is natural that we want to hasten its end (both for those who suffer at the hands of others and for those who we believe will suffer in coming to know their complicity). But when our own conversion eclipses our appreciation for others and their own narratives (even narratives we have come to associate with the behavior of an oppressor), it is desperate. And there is a reason desperation is suspicious. It is always too personal." - p. 165

"If we are ever to truly act with compassion, we must be willing to see people, animals, and especially ourselves for what we truly are: ever-changing and capable of growth, decay, transcendence destruction; witnesses to our own inalienable experiences; ultimately, living testaments of the choices we have made, the acts of compassion or cruelty we have witnessed, and the lives we have known. Each life lived is foremost and always an honest testament to its own truth, never to a truth someone else supposes to have been or once tried to impose.

Women and people of color in America have learned the hard way to stand up to individuals trying to tell them what's best for them" - p. 166

"In amplifying the voices of Black vegan women, many of whom condemn injustices against nonhuman animals and almost all of whom see diet as a political choice inescapably linked to questions of social and environmental justice, this book kicks over all kinds of stereotypes about vegans, animal advocates, and Black women. But it doesn't stop there. By presenting veganism as a Black feminist and antiracist practice, this book illuminates inconvenient connections that the feminist, antiracist, animal liberation, and environmental movements have too long ignored." - p. 187 and 188

"Together, we are working toward a comprehensive analysis and activist practice that includes speciesism along with racism, sexism, and other forms of intraspecies oppression...

Unfortunately, there has yet to be an answering engagement from environmental and social justice activists. Even though going vegan is the most effective way for people to sharply reduce their own water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, environmental organizations rarely mention this as an option, much less an obligation " - p. 189

"Michelle Lloyd-Paige writes that, 'All social inequities are linked. Comprehensive systemic change will happen only if we are aware of these connections and work to bring an end to all inequalities-not just our favorites or the ones that most directly affect our part of the universe.' Delicia Dunham asserts that 'When we as a people learn that 'isms' are interrelated and that oppression of any being of any kind is tied to our own oppression, then we can begin to overcome those oppressions for the benefit of all.'" - p. 194

"And maybe it is not a coincidence that such a question would lead eventually to a theory of veganism as potentially a central component to decolonization. Those of us who come out despite societal pressure to be straight maintain our integrity by reaching for our hearts' desires rather than for the partners we have been taught we ought to take. Those of us who go vegan even though we may still desire animal-based foods maintain our integrity by forgoing desires that were implanted in us. In both instances, we preserve our ethical, emotional, and physical wholeness by resisting the colonization of our most intimate wishes." - p. 197

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on the fence about this one. It's important especially for white vegans to understand the perspectives of other, black, vegans - where people came from, how they came to veganism, how white colonialism and the history of slavery has affected others.

On the other hand, this book contains essays from non-vegans (one woman even declaring that she doesn't "understand" animal rights, and that human rights are more important - speciesist crap if I ever heard it). So the title is misleading. And that really bothered me. As far as I know, veganism is about non-human animals. That was the starting point. If we keep watering down the definition, it becomes meaningless so that people who eat some fish once a month somehow "are vegan." So.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading the Bible, you know OT stuff that speaks to the diets of those seeking to fast or be sanctified for the Lord and the idea just hit me like a ton of bricks: Google the terms "black women" and "vegan". I stumbled upon an article concerning the health of black woman and a brief review of Sistah Vegan.
I'm new to conscious, health eating as a young, black identified woman, so reading this book has been a plus. I do like the academics who are featured in the book (someone even quoted my college professor Dr. M.K.Bass). I also like some of the more "passionate" pieces. They're all just helping me to think through my eating habits.

I am appreciative of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't written my review yet because I've been taking notes in the book, and I want to provide comments on each essay.

Kudos to A. Breeze Harper for putting together this collection of opinions from women who identify as black and vegan. I loved that the women spoke out about their own opinions freely and strongly. The various voices in the essays did not agree with each other; each one was unique. I loved also the essays in poetry or rap format. Would love to hear the authors perform these as spoken word.

[Preethi Krishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a vegan or a vegetarian. Given how brahmins use their vegetarianism to signal their caste status, I am not inclined to ever use either label for myself. That said, in recent years, I have been increasingly aware that my justice framework does not include non-humans and is lacking in that respect. As I spend more time with friends who have deep compassion for animals, I realize that justice can/should be more expansive. They encourage me to see that compassion without boundaries is beautiful.

But I always saw vegetarian as brahmin and vegan as white. (Although I follow some amazing vegan recipe youtube channels by women of color. My favorites PickupLimes and SweetPotatoSoul)
In that sense, Sistah Vegan is a refreshing series of essays where Black women write about their veganism. Some essays were fabulous, some I had mixed feelings about, and some I disagreed with.

The authors had all arrived at veganism from different vantage points. For some, it was about health, for some it was about animal rights, for some it was about challenging the systemic racism that has resulted in a particular food regime for Black people, and for some, it was a spiritual experience. For me, the most interesting essays were the ones about animal rights and intersections of anti-racism and veganism.

The introduction essay from Breeze Harper introduces an interesting dilemma for Black animal rights activists, who care about animals and anti-racism. She introduces a problematic campaign run by PETA. As Harper says, PETA's campaign implied that "the exploitation and torture of nonhuman animals come from the same master/oppressor ideology that created atrocities such as African slavery, Native American genocide, and the Jewish Holocaust." Yet, the campaign as presented by PETA felt offensive to some, as it "showed the images of human suffering juxtaposed with nonhuman animal suffering." This is one example of the many ways in which Black animal rights vegans grapple with the racism in the vegan movement. Many Black women in this anthology see how the ideology of exploitation is ubiquitous. But they did not appreciate their trauma being appropriated. Breeze Harper starts the anthology with a number of pertinent questions (words changed for brevity):
1. How are Black vegans using veganism to decolonize their bodies and engage in health activism that resists institutionalized racism and neocolonialism?
2. How does the representation of veganism as white and thin affect Black women's willingness to explore veganism?
3. How does the legacy of white racism and elitist view of culinary ideologies impact Black Americans' relationship to ethical eating philosophy?
4. How can Sistah Vegans and allies present a model of veganism and vegetarianism as a tool that resists institutionalized racism, environmental degradation, and high rates of diseases plaguing the Black community?

One of my favorite essays that addressed some of these questions was from Tashee Meadows. Rather than suggest a competition between human suffering and animal suffering, what if we realize that our suffering is connected and so is our liberation?

The more I learned, the more the animals' suffering resonated with me. Somehow, I felt that eating suffering and calling it nourishment could only produce more suffering. I thought of my ancestry as a Black woman: the rapes, unwanted pregnancies, captivity, stolen babies, grieving mothers, horrific transports, and the physical, mental, and spiritual pain of chattel slavery. I'm convinced that animals of other species, many of whom are more protective of their young than humans, grieve when their babies are taken away. I thought of how much I missed my mother, brother, and sister when I was in foster care. I made the emotional connection that other beings must feel this pain, too, when they are separated from their mothers and other family members. When I saw the battery cages, I thought of the more than two million Americans who know cages firsthand in the prison-industrial complex. I thought of the economically oppressed workers at killing plants and wondered if people who kill and cut all day could still make love at night.

My favorite essays were the ones that challenged my speciesism -"A belief that different species of animals are significantly different from one another in their capacities to feel pleasure and pain and live an autonomous existence, usually involving the idea that one's own species has the right to rule and use others." (As defined by Marjorie Spiegel, The Dreaded Comparison: Human and Animal Slavery)

I did not love all the essays though. My least favorite was the anti-vaccine essay and essays which showed no compassion for those suffering economically in an industrialized food regime. Cheap food is often unhealthy and processed food. For those who are anti-caste, the generalization of Indian food as vegetarian could cause minor irritation. :) But most of all, I think the last question that Harper raised remains un-answered -- what is the model for veganism/vegetarianism that resists institutionalized racism, environmental degradation, and colonialism/imperialism? And in the case of India casteism?

Most of the essays were about individual experiences and a call for action at an individual level. However, the exploitation that the authors write about is exacerbated under an industrial capitalistic regime. Individual actions can only do so much. I wish there was a section on social movements, a call for a socialist revolution that is more expansive on whose suffering counts.

Recommended.

[Franklin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very mixed experience. There are some excellent essays that had me saying "yes!" out loud as I read, but unfortunately these are undermined by the essays espousing antivax ideology and reinforcing negative vegan stereotypes. These worse essays are probably not the majority but they are the ones that stand out, stay in your mind, and make it impossible to recommend the book without some big caveats.