A Special BVR Discount For "Turn Me Loose"

Turn Me Loose is a new play presented by John Legend, starring Joe Morton (from Scandal). Morton plays famous comedian and health activist, Dick Gregory. The play shines a light on the first Black comedian to expose white audiences to racial comedy. Gregory confronted bigotry with shockingly disarming humor, marched alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., and deeply influenced comics from Richard Pryor to Chris Rock. He’s been a prolific writer, muckraker, provocateur, candidate for mayor of Chicago and for president of the United States. He was singled out by President Obama as one of his all-time favorite comedians. Experience the comic genius of Dick Gregory and the poetic final words of his mentor, slain civil rights activist,

The New York Times is calling it "brilliant" and "scorchingly funny", and the show has been named a New York Times Critics' Pick-you can read the full review here. 

We have a special discount code for the Black Vegans Rock audience if you want to attend the play by yourself or with a group!

Here are the details about the location:

Westside Theatre Downstairs

407 W 43rd St (between 9th and 10th Avenues)

New York, NY 1036

GENERAL ADMISSION:

Strictly Limited Engagement – Now Through July 3 Only!

Performance Schedule:*

Tuesday 7pm | Wednesday 2pm & 7:30pm | Thursday 7:30pm |

Friday 8pm | Saturday 2pm & 8pm | Sunday 3pm

* Performance Schedule Change: The matinee performance on Sunday 5/29 will be at 2pm.

No Performance: Tuesday, 5/31 at 7pm

Additional Performance: Sunday 6/05 at 7pm

Special Offer – Save over 35%!
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – Tickets $49 (Reg. $79)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday – Tickets $55 (Reg. $79)

THREE EASY WAYS TO BUY:

ONLINE: Visit TelechargeOffers.com and use code TMLGNL49

PHONE: Call 212.947.8844 and mention code TMLGNL49

IN PERSON: Present this offer at the Westside Theatre Box Office – 407 West 43rd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues). Box office hours: Daily, Noon - 6 PM.

Group prices

$79 (regular price)

$49 (Weekday group price-Tue, Wed, Thurs (8+)

$55 (Weekend group price-Fri, Sat, Sun (8+)

$35 (Student group price-all performances (8+)

Note that prices include a non-commissionable $1.50 facility fee.
10% commission will be paid for all groups of 8+ excluding Saturday evening performances.

RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission

GROUP SALES:
8+

boxoffice@westsidetheatre.com 212-315-2244

BOOKING
Agents with access to the STAR system may enter orders online using event code AWESTL. Orders may also be emailed to the Westside Theatre Box Office at boxoffice@westsidetheatre.com. For group orders via email, no order is complete until the reservation confirmation is sent directly from the box office. The Box Office can also be reached at 212-315-2244. Check or cash payment is due no later than three weeks prior to performance date via check made out in full to The Westside Theatre Downstairs. Credit cards are not accepted at this time for group orders. Group orders must include the group and leader name, number of tickets, and performance date and time. Commissions (10%) will be remitted the week after the performance plays.

Strictly Limited Engagement – Now Through July 3 Only!

Performance Schedule:*

Tuesday 7pm | Wednesday 2pm & 7:30pm | Thursday 7:30pm |

Friday 8pm | Saturday 2pm & 8pm | Sunday 3pm

* Performance Schedule Change: The matinee performance on Sunday 5/29 will be at 2pm.

No Performance: Tuesday, 5/31 at 7pm

Additional Performance: Sunday 6/05 at 7pm

For more information, visit www.TurnMeLoosePlay.com

FEATURE: Dr. Brenda Bradley

Dr. Bradley is an energetic and engaging certified health coach and loving mother of two. Through her work and passion for healthy eating and living, she decided to answer the call to become a health coach. She attended Hallelujah Acres' Health Minister training in Gastonia, North Carolina. She received additional training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. She is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. 

Determined to break free from the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is known to cause more harm than good, she set out on her journey to research food, diseases, and fitness. Her goal is to inspire others to lead the charge for healthy eating and exercise to enhance the lives of others. Today, she leads an active lifestyle which includes working out at the local gym four to five times a week. As a vegan, her diet consists of 85% raw, uncooked, and unprocessed plant-based food, and 15% cooked plant-based foods. 

Dr. Bradley leads workshops on nutrition and offers individual health coaching. Her main focus is to help individuals improve their health and lifestyles. She has written and released her first cookbook, Kale Yeah It's Good, No Meat Necessary, which is currently sold on Amazon. She also hosts a monthly 21-Day Vegan Challenge.

FEATURE: Asare Ebenezer

I am Asare Ebenezer. I am a practicing vegan from the Republic of Ghana. I'm 19 years of age and in high school . Although veganism is not well practiced here, I love my village very well, and so I dream of providing a lot of things to help them. However, one of the major things that needs to be done to help spread awareness and camaraderie among us as vegans and as other villagers is to provide us all with an internet cafe.

The Internet Cafe
The internet cafe can provide the following benefits:
1. A place to share hopes and dreams.
2. A place to begin vegan and animal rights awareness.
3. A place to gather to brain storm for help, jobs, education and finding ways to help build the vegan and animal rights causes.

Being Vegan in Ghana
Being a vegan in my country is not easy. I have gone through a lot of problems and as we all have come to understand problems always serve to strengthen us, but there is more to this issue. Vegan ideals help us recognize our world in a better way, and we see much clearer the need to help end dependence on animals as a food source. In fact, I was fortunate enough to become a vegan when I was 13.

The cause of this came about when I noticed that the act of feeding on meat does a lot more harm than good on the environment, on our bodies and on our ability to live happily. My late father was a hunter together along with my grandfather. When I was young they would go into the forest each day and bring in different kinds of bush meats. That is what we used for our food in the household. We would give away some to our neighbors since we had a lot. I used to enjoy the good feeling of generosity until I started making some analysis on my own.

Vegan vs Meats
One day I asked myself - do meats and fish really help our body? What brought up that idea, I thought to myself. Well, I had the mentality that animals need to enjoy freedom. Of course, for them to enjoy they need to live naturally. We do not need to kill them!

How I Learned about Vegan Foods
Then, one day I spoke with a Rastafarian who was a vegan in the next village to me. He taught me a lot about being a vegan and the vital point took me over. From there I have never tasted any animal product again. An interesting thing is that I was told by my mother that when I was very young, I never did eat meat...I ignored it anytime it was part of my food. 
Here is something also interesting, my mother told me about how she forced me to eat meat...because in Ghana there is a misconception that people who ignore meat in their diets will become deaf. Education would surely help us all there. I think what also helped is that I feel I was born a vegan (and I'm proud of it).

Vegan Research for the Cafe
The start of the cafe idea began when I started researching the importance of vegan ideals. I began to realize that vegan idealism has a direct effect on the environment, the individual, and also on the animal. 

I wrote to my basic school head teacher about the new research that came about from the amazing fact that veganism leads to all kinds of much better health for our villagers, our animals, and for us all. 
The great part was that when the time came about....at first he was not convinced, but he allowed me to prove how this was to him. He then allowed me to speak to my colleagues at the assembly standings.

One Monday morning. I was a little bit shy but soon I spoke out with flying colors. Again, the old suspicions came: Most students then at the basic school started calling me "Mr.Kyerenam" which means a person who hates meat. They did not understand me, a vegan, because they were taught that meat was vital to them. 

However, after delivering my ideas and solid research it was clear that all the teachers were amazed and soon all started the effort at reducing the intake of animal products. Furthermore, it did not go unnoticed that people might attempt to justify consumption of animal products for reasons of health. Here I began explaining that an increasing number of medical professionals are beginning to realize that not only are plant-based diets nutritionally complete, but they are actually more nourishing and far less toxic than their animal-based counterparts. 

In addition, the public here is beginning to realize that many of the major dangers associated with diet heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and many, many more problems and diseases are exacerbated by the consumption of animal products.

Conclusion
l love being a vegan. I have been able to convert two of my friends to veganism. l have an unending mission to help people understand the natural and necessary importance of the vegan movement and how natural and better it is to be a vegan.

I would like to start up the internet cafe which as I mentioned can do so much to open up communication between all vegan groups and the people of our area and villages. In turn, many people will come to feel closer together and then we can get things done locally right away. The idea of getting links to Black Vegans Rock and other vegan groups all over will help the cafe become a solid source of information. Thank you.

You can contact Asare through email: asarequophy@gmail.com

FEATURE: PaSean Wilson-Ashley

As a child growing up in New York in the 60's, my mother Maydell was always trying out new things on us.  She would grow wheatgrass on a paper towel and she would have my siblings and  I chew on it.  I remember her talking about Ann Wigmore (the woman who put wheatgrass on the map) and what the government was doing to genetically alter fruits and vegetables.  I recall after consuming birthday cake my mother would have my siblings and I drink aloe tea to "clean out."  We were not vegan but we ate lots of fruits and vegetables.  My Mother's mantra was "Its all about balance. Too  much or too little of anything is not good."

But, my VEGAN journey began when I moved in with my voice teacher after college.  She was a mostly raw food vegan and informed me that meat, dairy, and wheat were not the best things for vocal health.  So, I became a vegan.  At first it was a challenge because back then vegan food was tasteless and vegan desserts were dry.  But over the years vegan culinary arts have greatly improved and vegans no longer have to eat cardboard and pretend it's tasty.  

I recently started a vegan baking business called MamaAunties Vegan Baked Goodies. My vegan desserts can be purchased at Tonnie's Minis, which is located at  4734 Broadway, New York, NY 10040 and I accept custom orders by email MamaAunties@gmail.com.  I began baking about 3 years ago when I got tired of spending my whole paycheck on vegan sweets.  I started out with chocolate chip cookies and my menu has expanded to include:

Almond Butter Cookies

Banana Cake

Banana Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting.

Banana Nut Bread (Chocolate)

Brownies with Walnuts

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans or Walnuts

Coffee Cake

Lemons Bundt Cake

Persimmon Pumpkin Spice Cake

Vanilla Pound Cake

Red Velvet Cupcakes Cream Cheese Frosting 

Vanilla Cake with Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting. 

Vanilla Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Chocolate/Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Vanilla Frosting,

Vegan Ice Cream

As well as custom wedding and birthday cakes

BVR Sunday News Roundup

VegNews Releases Article About Intersectional Vegan Conference in the UK

Photo credit: Pax Ahimsa Gethen

We were pleasantly surprised to see that VegNews reporter Richard Bowie wrote a piece about UK's first Intersectional Vegan Conference which will be taking place in October! In case you didn't already know, Dr. Breeze Harper, Aph Ko, Christopher Sebastian McJetters, Demetrius Bagley, and Lauren Ornelas (from Food Empowerment Project) will be some of the speakers! Read the article HERE. 

Oakland VegFest Featured Prominent Black Speakers

 

Oakland's VegFest, which took place from May 15 through the 21st, featured speakers like vegan activist David Carter and Olympian Seba Johnson! We can't wait to read more recaps about the event! 

HuffPost Releases Controversial Essay About Black People and Veganism

TOM MERTON VIA GETTY IMAGES

Nzinga Young, a writer for the Huffington Post, released a controversial essay titled, "Here's Why Black People Don't Go Vegan." In it, Young describes some of the cultural challenges that Black people face when it comes to veganism, and she lists some resources (including BVR) that people can check out if they are interested in veganism. What did you think of the article?

Vegan SoulFest is Looking For Volunteers

Vegan Soulfest organizers need volunteers from 9am to 9pm on the day of the festival, August 20th. Email info@vegansoulfest.com with "Volunteer" in the subject line, hours that you can assist in the body of the email, and the best contact info for you. 

Haile Thomas Announces Details About HAPPY Chefs Summer Camp

This is Haile Thomas with First Lady Michelle Obama

Do you have children who love to cook? Don't miss the HAPPY Chefs Summer Camp. During the week of July 18th through the 22nd, campers will explore 5 cuisines: Indian, Italian, Japanese, Caribbean,and Thai as well as learn about the culture of the featured country!

HAPPY Chefs Summer Camp is the tastiest place for kids to learn to cook and to embrace healthy foods, and they are committed to making this possible for deserving kids this summer. Your child can enter a contest to win one of four scholarships to the summer camp. Find out more information HERE. 

Check Out Bria Bea's New Digital Look

Bria Bea, you know...the person who made that hilarious video "Things to Stop Saying to Black Vegans" has redesigned her digital space. She changed the name of her FB page to Unapologetically Bria Bea and her other social media pages to @beunapologtic.  Check it out and be sure to support her work! 

Nominate Black Vegans for the Root 100 List

Honorees of The Root 100 2015 after receiving their awards in New York City on Nov. 12, 2015. Derrick Davis for The Root.

By: Aph Ko

Every year, The Root, which is a daily online news site that provides commentary on today's news from a variety of African American perspectives, hosts a Root 100 list on their site. The goal of the list is to spotlight exciting, innovative, creative, passionate leaders in the African-American community who have caught your attention in the past year. Here are the lists from 2014 to 2015. The really exciting thing about this is that the public can nominate who they want on the list.

Unsurprisingly, really popular actors, political figures, athletes, and entertainers tend to be recognized the most. This makes sense considering they tend to get the most visibility in the public sphere, and they tend to have large followings. (If a person on the list is vegan, their vegan activism is somehow left out of the description of their work).

Every now and then, really amazing political activists get nominated like Alicia Garza (founder of Black Lives Matter) or Bree Newsome (the Black woman who took down the confederate flag in NC),  so, I'm going to urge the Black Vegans Rock audience to try to nominate Black vegans for the list as a political statement.

Not only will it show that Black vegans are very much a part of the larger Black community, our nominations will also demonstrate how Black vegans refuse to be overlooked as agents of change. 

We've provided A LOT of Black vegans to choose from over here at Black Vegans Rock, so sift through the features and choose someone who you think should be spotlighted. 

To nominate someone, click on the link HERE and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. You have until June 20th to contribute to this process!

#blackvegansrock

We Have Featured 100 Black Vegans

By: Aph Ko

Back in June 2015, I created a list titled #BlackVegansRock: 100 Black Vegans To Check Out. At the beginning of the piece I wrote:

I am treating this piece as a performance art piece, not a blog post. Each time someone from the animal rights/vegan community wants to write an article about how white the animal rights/vegan movement is, I hope that they choose one person from this list to write an article about instead. 

This list is not in any particular order, and it is not meant to be completely exhaustive. Additionally, I can’t guarantee that everyone on this list is still vegan, though they were at the time of my research. I acquired this information simply by researching online and asking around. Also, I must note that I personally don’t think eating a plant-based diet automatically means that you’re a political activist or animal rights activist. As I said in a previous post “Veganism without politicization only yields de-contexualized diets.”

Nevertheless, this list is meant to serve as a statement for anyone who says “veganism is white.” 

The list I created was the inspiration for Black Vegans Rock. We have already featured 100 Black Vegans on this website and we intend to feature MANY more! 

If you are interested in being featured, please send an email to blackvegansrock@gmail.com with a clear photo as well as 200-500 words describing why you went vegan. You can tell us about your vegan journey as well as your thoughts about anti-racism, feminism, veganism, etc. 

Thank you for all of your support!

#blackvegansrock

FEATURE: Rosalyn Terry

I went vegan back in 2013. I made the transition because I was tired of being sick and I was tired of doctors not knowing what was wrong with me. I have been battling lupus since 2002, and I went through so many changes. I saw various specialists that gave me all of these medications that were not working. At one point, I was taking 20 pills a day. 

In 2010 I transitioned to vegetarian and could tell I was feeling better but still had some work to do. After various hospital visits, more medication, and the possibility of chemo treatments, 2013 was the year I decided enough was enough. I started college in August 2014 and while I was there, I learned so much about the food industry, animal agriculture, pharmacy, disease, and food. So, I started implementing what I was learning in class and using it for myself. 

I haven't had any symptoms since and I share my personal journey all over social media to inspire others.

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