FEATURE: Capucine L. Philson

To tell you the truth, my journey started in my late teens and on. At 19 my family doctor believed meat was the cause of my many ailments. That 20 plus years journey led me to veganism and it has been God's work. My health and body have been through many changes from eating meat, from 3 major surgeries to my turbulent weight changes which are now stabled. So, my vegan journey started as a 21-day challenge posted by Re Belle in Western NY Natural Facebook page. The most fulfilling challenge of my life! Those 21 days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months turned into years. I'm grateful and I truly believe it has saved my life! 

I've always loved animals, however my vegan lifestyle began to improve my health. No matter what, I've always spoken out against animal abuse. When there's a platform to expose these atrocious acts, anyone, not just vegans, should speak out against them. 

I'll tell anyone being vegan is challenging in a world that's so conformed and regimented. I've been ridiculed and left out, although, that's nothing new for me because I always stand alone. I truly believe I rock because I embrace my differences and others should too. I never thought there would be prejudices within this lifestyle I've chosen, but there is.

Being vegan means to be self-sufficient, self-reliable, creative (preparing vegan cheeses are interesting and masterful), and moreover, highly conscious. I'm a member of the WNY Vegans Facebook group; I'm Vegan, I'm Black and It Actually Happens; and my page I've recently created with Buffalo's amazing Rhonda Wells, owner of Buffalo Plant Burger, I'm Vegan, I'm Black and It Really Happens: Bison Green. She was saddened that at the Juneteenth festival she had spoken with young black people and teens that claimed, "Only white people were vegans." So, we brainstormed to create this page for the WNY area as well for black vegans. It's a small community but I'm faith-filled that it will continue to grow!

Thanks for the project. WE truly need this and those of you who are responsible for creating this project! 
 

FEATURE: JoVonna Johnson-Cooke

JoVonna Johnson- Cooke is a veganic farmer, chef and food justice activist working in Atlanta. JoVonna is the owner and co-founder of Maitufoods, a vegan meal delivery service and vegan nutrition education hub. Through MaituFoods, she is working to develop culturally appropriate and accessible educational materials that highlight the benefits of healthy nutrition through a vegan diet. 

Since 2008, MaituFoods has served more than 1,920 vegan school lunches to children and more than 1,000 vegan meals to families. The overall mission of MaituFoods is to honor the art of food rituals, and to serve humanity in a way that promotes the least harm and the most good for people, animals, and the environment. 

With her husband, JoVonna co-founded Grow Where You Are, an organization committed to increasing local food sovereignty by assisting individuals and communities in creating sustainable, plant-based local food systems. Grow Where You Are has transformed numerous urban spaces in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Atlanta by establishing community food gardens & vegetable farms. 

"We as a planet can no longer sustain ourselves off of the slaughter and consumption of animals. The mass farming and consuming of animals to fuel an unimaginative, degenerated palate and an annihilating, cruelty-based industry has brought us close to a place of irreconcilable destruction. We believe that with a vegan lifestyle that includes veganic growing and farm production to feed the masses of people, we can begin to restore our environment and our relationship to the Earth and its living beings." -JoVonna Johnson-Cooke

Links to JoVonna's work:

http://www.maitufoods.com/

https://www.instagram.com/maitufoods/

https://www.facebook.com/maitufoods/

https://twitter.com/maitufoods

info@maitufoods.com

BVR Sunday News Roundup

Tracye McQuirter, MPH Featured in VegNews

We are excited to announce that BVR's Tracye McQuirter, MPH, was the first Black vegan to be spotlighted in VegNews' Black History Month spotlights! Read her interview HERE. 

Black Girl Dangerous Podcast Tackles Anti-Racist Veganism and Non-Binary Femmes

A screenshot from the Black Girl Dangerous website.

A screenshot from the Black Girl Dangerous website.

Make sure to check out the latest podcast which features a conversation hosted by Chanelle Adams and Princess Harmony, with guests Brandie and Jack Qu’emi Gutierrez.

David Hayes Goes Vegan

In an interview with the Independent,  David Hayes, a British boxer who was also a former world-champion, describes why he decided to switch to a vegan lifestyle. He states:

"I watched a TV documentary about how animals are farmed, killed and prepared for us to eat...I saw all those cows and pigs and realised I couldn't be a part of it any more. It was horrible. I did some research to make sure I could still obtain enough protein to fight, and once satisfied that I could, I stopped. I'll never go back."

FEATURE: Cory Booker

In 2013, Cory Booker became the first U.S. black senator in the state of New Jersey. In 1992 he became vegetarian, and in 2014 he decided to become vegan. In an interview with Philly.com, he states:

"But the compelling reasons that made be become a vegetarian are pretty much the same compelling reasons for me to become a vegan. I almost felt like I'd been playing avoidance on [it] for a long time, just giving in to things like Ben and Jerry's and New Jersey pizza...I have to say I feel a lot better, both emotionally and physically...While some people might think trying to be vegan would make your life more complicated, it's actually making my life more simple and cleaner...

 When you find yourself trying to avoid the truth about something because it's inconvenient, because you know it doesn't align with your values and your moral compass...I wasn't living my truth...Everybody struggles. We're all working to live our best selves, and we should do less judging and more encouraging." 

Though he was initially going to try veganism throughout 2014, he is still vegan. In 2015, after attending a cocktail party hosted by President Obama, he complained that there weren't any vegan options. He is very vocal about his vegan politics and advocates against animal cruelty and oppression.

FEATURE: Jim Morris

Jim Morris passed away in Venice, CA on January 28, 2016 at the age of 80. Throughout his career, Morris has been celebrated by the public for his vegan advocacy and commitment to social change. 

He was a former Mr. USA and 15 year vegan before he died. He was vegetarian for 30 years and later transitioned to veganism.

Morris dispelled a lot of stereotypes in his career. Bodybuilding has historically been regarded as a sport for white athletes, however when Morris arrived on the scene, he broke through barriers as an African American gay man. He was the second black man to win Mr. America. He's also credited as being Elton John's bodyguard for 15 years. 

Forks Over Knives featured a short documentary about him called, Jim Morris: Lifelong Fitness:





Sunday Black Vegan News Roundup

Check out "Meatout 2016" 

The Black Vegetarian Society of Texas is hosting a huge International event to bring awareness to the benefits of eating vegan called, "Meatout 2016: Tackle Your Health." It's a FREE event and it's open to EVERYONE. Celebrity Executive Chef, Ayinde Howell will present a vegan food prep demo. David Carter, a former NFL lineman and the 300 lb Vegan is the keynote speaker. The event takes place on March 19, 2016 from 10am to 3pm. Get more details HERE. 

BVR Founder, Aph Ko, Has a New Interview Out

Screen Shot 2016-01-10 at 11.09.57 AM.png

Aph Ko was recently interviewed by Compassion Over Killing about the Black Vegans Rock project. She states:

"I would argue that in order for black folks to be useful agents of change in the mainstream society, we first need to rebuild ourselves through our own grassroots movements. Black Vegans Rock has been receiving a lot of attacks from some animal rights activists who seem to be threatened by the idea that there are different ways to engage different communities in veganism and animal rights. However, I don't focus on people who want to attack. I believe that there should always be a diversity of perspectives in activist spaces. The more people share their ideas for making veganism and animal rights more accessible for different audiences. the better. I don't think there's one way of doing it. Animal oppression is a very serious problem and we need to always remember that this is why we're doing our activist work." 

Babette Davis, Chef and Co-owner of "Stuff I Eat" Was Featured in Vice

Babette's vegan restaurant in LA was spotlighted in Vice! She states:

"We needed to be here to bring this to a community that has so many health issues. Because we lived [here], we knew that there was nothing healthy around to eat. And whenever we wanted to purchase good food or go out to eat, we had to travel across town-[for] vegan food, in particular."

Check out the Vegan Voices of Color Website

Vegan Voices of Color is a new space that shows the intersections of PoC and the animal agriculture industry. Check out the new website HERE and be sure to like the Facebook page. 

New Essay on Aphro-ism 

Aphro-ism has a new essay out by Aph Ko titled, "Vegans of Color and Respectability Politics: When Eurocentric Veganism is Used to Rehabilitate Minorities." Here's a quote from the article:

"Veganism shouldn't be a tool the dominant class uses to rehabilitate blackness, as though blackness is inherently criminal, deviant, and barbaric. The consistent focus on former gang-members turned vegan perpetuates this narrative that veganism is peaceful and automatically leads to social justice. Veganism is sold as the perfect antidote to years of systemic racism."

Donate to Pax Ahimsa Gethen's Patreon Account

Pax is on the advisory board for BVR, as well as a skilled photographer and writer. Click HERE to become a patron! 

Last Chance to Sign Up For Tracye McQuirter's Online Vegan Bootcamp

LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITION THAN YOUR DOCTOR! 

If you're ready to go vegan (or more vegan), Vegan Nutrition Boot Camp will provide you with easy-to-understand and in-depth information about the foundations of plant-based nutrition. And you'll learn how to choose the right vegan foods to ensure you're getting the essential nutrients you need each day. By the end of the boot camp, you'll know exactly what to eat for good nutrition. And you'll have the confidence to move forward on your healthy vegan journey. Learn more and register at: http://www.byanygreensnecessary.com/#!online-learning/c1anf.

FEATURE: The Theus Family

Our entire family follows a vegan diet, beginning with my husband Londale Sr. followed by me in 1985, and our children Kamaal (29 yrs) and Londale Jr. (28 yrs) since birth. On our website, VeggieSoulFood.com, and in our latest cookbook, The Vegan System, we have “cracked the code” and taken the mystery and confusion out of vegan living by providing tips and recipes that are not only healthy but also very hearty and reminiscent of my mother’s southern cooking and many popular mainstream dishes. Our approach can be considered “Veganism 101” because we use easy to find ingredients and products and “veganize” our favorite mainstream dishes.

We believe our family's story and approach fills a very significant niche in the market, especially for new vegans or those who have family, friends and loved ones that are a bit skeptical. I was one of those people myself. When I met Londale in 1985, the concept of compassionate eating and vegetarianism was completely foreign to me, but within a few weeks, I finally “got it”, and after a breakfast of pork chops on April 9th, 1985 I gave up meat, poultry, fish and eggs forever (and later dairy). We raised our children as such and I was completely vegetarian throughout both pregnancies. Our website and our books came out of the need for me to pass on our family recipes to my children when they were in college. Basically, Kamaal and I wrote the book I wish I had 30 years ago!

Over 30 years as vegetarian/vegan; we have written 3 cookbooks; most recent one is The Vegan System highlighting our favorite products, recipes, and the tips and tricks we use while traveling, in school, and at work

Kamaal and Londale Jr. have NEVER eaten meat, poultry, fish or eggs.

Londale Sr. and Londale Jr. were both athletes. Londale Sr. is a retired cop, and is now an actor, as is Londale Jr.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR BLACK VEGANS ROCK READERS:

The Theus family is offering BVR readers a $5.00 discount for their downloadable book The Vegan System. All you have to do is enter the coupon code bvr2016. It is active now and may be used anytime. Go to www.veggiesoulfood.com to download your copy today! 

Sunday: Black Vegan News Roundup

Can You Dig This?: A New Documentary About Black Gardeners

There's a new documentary that's set to come out that centers on black gardeners. The website for the film states:

As part of an urban gardening movement taking root in South LA, people are planting to transform their neighborhoods and are changing their own lives in the process. Calling for people to put down their guns and pick up their shovels, these "gangster gardeners" are creating an oasis in the middle of one of the most notoriously dangerous places in America.

"CAN YOU DIG THIS" follows the inspirational journeys of four unlikely gardeners, discovering what happens when they put their hands in the soil. This is not a story of science and economics. This is a story of the human spirit, inspiring people everywhere to pick up their shovels and "plant some shit."

Critical Animal Studies Conference In June 

There's a critical animal studies conference at the University of Alberta from June 21-23 called, "Decolonizing and Cripping Critical Animal Studies." Check out the program HERE. BVR Advisory Board member Syl Ko will be giving a presentation. 

Please Donate to Square De Med's GoFundMe Campaign

Square De Med is looking for help for travel expenses so that he can attend the Intersectional Justice Conference at the Whidbey Institute in Washington. He currently lives in Ghana. He's been vegan for two years and really wants to attend. Please donate any amount that you can! He has *almost* reached his funding goal!

Vegucated Screening in Detroit, MI on February 1st!

Do you live near Detroit? There will be a screening of Vegucated on February 1st at 5:30pm! Click HERE for more details! 

Cart (0)