Vegan lifestyle articles that discuss ways of living in peace with humans, animals, and the environment.
And another black vegan woman promoting veganism as a social justice issue.
With all the information out there about the benefits of eating a
plant-based diet, why wouldn’t I go vegan?
It’s a well known fact that African Americans experience the highest rates
of preventable, diet-related chronic illnesses in the U.S. So as a Black
woman, I knew I couldn’t keep doing that same things and expecting to not be
in that number. Figuring out how to nourish my body in a way that brought to
it healing was paramount.
Hypertension and diabetes are all too common in my household. So something
had to give.
I set my intention December 2016 to be plant-based at some point in the near
future. But honestly, I didn’t take major action toward that end until late
the following year.
Something happened while I was preparing a hen for dinner one evening, and I
would never be the same. While I was seasoning the bird, seeing the arms,
the neck and the legs in front of me...I swelled up with emotion. For the
first time I felt as if I was responsible. I felt as if I’d killed this bird
with my own hands.
I tried for a few weeks thereafter to cut meat out. But soon, my overall
mindset changed. I was no longer accepting that consuming animals on a daily
basis was the norm. I mean, think about it, how can we expect to eat dead
things and continue to have a living and thriving body? It just didn’t make
sense.
Since my transition, I’ve learned so much about the negative impact that
meat production is having on our environment—that is, being the largest
contributor to climate change. And frankly, it’s unacceptable. I know
without a doubt that we all must be a part of this change if we want to keep
living on this planet.
As a Black vegan, I’ve taken responsibility not only for fighting for the
rights of animals, but for the protection and ethical treatment of all
beings. And I invite my non-Black vegans to do the same. If all lives
matter, then fight for all lives equally—even more so for those whose lives
are taken frivolously and negatively impacted by systemic injustices. Fight
for those whose voices and rights are suppressed.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram: @MightBVegan
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/veganthisnotthat/
Website: https://mightbevegan.co/
Return to Articles Reflecting a Vegan Lifestyle