An Ethnographic Exploration of Veganism through the Lens of the Black Radical Tradition

• In Event: 40462 - Section on Animals and Society Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Animals and Politics

Abstract

There is no single history, epistemology, or lived experience of veganism. At present, in the United States alone, multiple veganisms exist and vie for attention in the public eye. However, social histories tend to minimize the role of the Black radical tradition in putting veganism on the map, disregarding race as a primary factor in its production. I provide a sketch of this broader landscape and contend that Black veganism reflects a continuation of the Black radical tradition rather than being a subset of contemporary veganism. An initial examination of these multiple veganisms suggests important similarities and differences. While each stance seeks personal and social transformation and shares political commitments to animals, human health, the environment, and has visions for alternative food systems, their epistemological stances significantly differ. Contemporary veganism emerges from a critique of human domination over nature, where animals are part of nature and humans are part of society, captured by the concept of speciesism. Alternatively, Black veganism stems from a lived experience where some humans are part of society, while others have historically been placed in the category of animal. Although scholars and public intellectuals provide theoretical insight into Black veganism, we know much less about how social phenomenon plays out in people’s daily lives within a specific geographical location, which is the primary aim of this study. I aim to excavate the subjugated knowledges of people who identify with Black veganism in Chicago. I anticipate that my ethnography will reveal a profound effect on ideas and practices concerning what veganism is against as well as alternative visions for the future, particularly in relation to health activism and food sovereignty.

Author

• Victoria Brockett, University of Illinois-Chicago