I find it hard to imagine my black experience without the presence of traditional soul food dishes such as fried chicken, turkey necks, oxtails, mac and cheese, etc. Food brings Black Americans together, it’s how we show love and community as well as continue to cultivate our heritage. 

The food we eat has deep roots as well, dating back to Jim Crow and even slavery. During these times our disproportionately poverty-stricken community was forced to make nothing into something every day and this was no different when it came to food. 

Modern soul food dishes originate from slave meals forged from crumbs and leftovers, or the meat we had to overcook during Jim Crow to avoid illness from the expired meats left for us in stores. Chitlins are the fried pig intestines our ancestors had to cook when slave masters left no other parts of the animal for their consumption.

For many of us, our food represents our struggle, triumph, and resilience against a grim history. This is why I find the new push for Black veganism so fascinating. 

It’s no secret that soul food isn’t a very healthy cuisine, as it’s high in fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol. Black people are already predisposed to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease which is coupled with our likelihood to be victims of medical malpractice. 

These factors are a large focal point of the Black vegan movement. The movement combines the importance of spiritual and physical well-being and how these things can be improved by being vegan. 

The Black vegan movement also makes sure to highlight the importance of representation. A large part of why Black people aren’t interested in veganism is due to the lack of Black figures headlining the cause. 

But with new Black influencers such as Tabitha Brown and Pinky Cole spreading their vegan recipes and lifestyle videos on their platforms, the concept of veganism has begun to circulate more and more within the community. 

Still, the idea of veganism is opposed by a large portion of Black people. Why should we give up the food we’ve cooked for years? Quite frankly, change is scary. Many associate the push for veganism as a call to sacrifice culture. 

I disagree, I believe the push for veganism in the Black community is empowering. We’re entering these spaces underrepresented and creating safety for other Black people to join. We’re reclaiming our health and healing our spiritual beings.

Although our cook-out dishes and Thanksgiving platters connect us to our undying history, I believe evolution must take place to continue the development of our community. 

The question is, do we let go of the trauma to be plant-based?