Thursday, April 1, 2010

Sex, Politics, Meat, & Carol J. Adams


I have decided to dedicate this entry to talk about Carol J. Adams. I have had the great opportunity of meeting Carol when she spoke at Earlham College and presented her presentation on "The Sexual Politics of Meat". I was already vegan when she came to speak and we had to chance to become facebook friends. I have to say she blew me away because finally someone was talking my language.

Many people think about veganism as something that is just a diet and you need to make sure you dont eat meat,eggs, and any other animal products. At the same time it's so much more than consumption because as I see that everything is connected and no way that we can deny that.

Carol takes you on a journey to understand how women are used to market animal products to the use of animals to sell a dress. It's just sad to think that even PETA would go as far to allow people to get naked and at the same time it's "saving a animal". This is not okay and we need to make sure that we understand to stop on oppression we cannot allow others to be oppressed.

My favorite part of Carol's presentation would have to be called "The Block Vegetarian" someone who wants to be vegetarian and at the same time refuses to try and understand the importance this lifestyle. She makes you wonder about the people around you and makes a vegan feel good about being vegan.

I know that being vegan for so long how many people have made fun of me and feel that it's pointless for me to eat animals. But when Carol gave her talk I just was overwhelmed with joy and knew why I didn't eat animals. When you think about vegan food people think about salads and Carol shows images of how great a vegan meal could look and we had a great vegan meal with her.

If you have not read the Sexual Politics of Meat then go out right now pick it up or order it on amazon.com. I'm a big fan of this Eco Feminist who is trying to educate and change the world.

Vegan Men are Now "hegans"

I could not believe my eyes. Men now have a word that describes there plant eating ways. I just need to say that this is not needed. We don't need to make a joke of veganism and I feel this just causes to many problems. Vegan is a fine word or just say you are eating a plant based diet. Hegan is suppose to be for men who adopt vegan diets in there 40s and 50s. We should not be putting age connected to a diet. Hegan should just not exist and people should not be made of fun of because of the time and age they choose to adopt a plant based diet.

Here is the story : http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/03/24/male_vegans_hegan

Vegans leave your comments and reflect.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Killer in the Communities of Color

Today I was with a friend and I could not stop thinking about the role that McDonalds, Burger King and KFC have played in my life. These places have changed the way I look at food. Because we all know that they all offer great cuisines for the pocket. Every time I walk pass one of these chains I think about suffering and oppression.

Many people are probably thinking how could a college student think of suffering and oppression when walking pass all American McDonalds. Think of oppression because in New York for example these fast food chains over take black communities and most community of color with cheap meal deals. It makes me sad that someone would be so oppressive and hateful to make food available to people that is unhealthy and highly processed foods. How is it that we live in a world that values a dollar more than making sure we all have healthy and fresh food to eat in our communities? We rather make the meat and dairy industry richer and not allow people to have access to the real soul food.

McDonald’s has changed the way I look at food because I always thought it was great to sit down and have a chicken nugget meal that to me at the time was tasty and had being eating since I was a child. It was considered to my dad at the time to be a healthy option on the menu. When I got older I just loved to the taste and the cheapness of the food before me.

When I decided to educate myself about food and factory farming I borrowed a book from my friend and co-worker called Fast Food Nation. I could not believe the way that animals were being treated. The thing I called food I could no longer feel comfortable eating animals again. Then I decided after completing the book I would give up land meat and then one day go vegetarian. I made it far and then January 2007 I decided to go vegan and eat a full plant base diet.

People feel that being vegan is the end of the world and that you cannot be healthy and happy. I have to disagree because food will bring us together at some point in our lives. We have to educate people and not allow food to be a privilege and let it be a right for all to have access to.

McDonalds has been killing people of color for so long and it’s not alone in this journey of destruction to the human body. I cannot sit her and support a industry that goes into community of color and put poison before them to eat. McDonalds is not marketing food that is healthy and balanced. They are marketing food that is cheap and at the end of the day comes with a whole host of health problem for the people who consume this products

I’m upset because places like this exist. I don’t feel that my parents did anything wrong by feeding me McDonalds. I’m upset because McDonalds is greedy and targeting the poor and people of color to consume this so called food. I think that people should know that Fast Food is going to be the killer in the black community and it must stop now. We must fight for food equality and start making healthy , organic , local , and fresh food access for all.










Sunday, March 14, 2010

Understand Diets and Vegetarianism/Veganism When Traveling

Today was a very interesting day for me. I spoke with my friend who is studying with me in London. She is just so amazing and a sweet person to know. We were speaking about our travels over our Spring. I went to Barcelona (pictures and information soon) and she went off to Madrid and Valencia Spain. She was explaining to me how hard it was to be veg.

I'm blogging about this because I just feel it can be hard to travel with people who are not veg because they usually feel that they have to have the local cuisine to gain the full experience. This is not true for all non-vegans and vegetarians. But we need to understand that veganism and vegetarianism is not just a choice all diets are a choice.

When you eat animal products and feel that it's not a choice you might want to sit back and examine your life choices. Why do people choose to be veg ? People choose to be veg because of health, environmental, and other positive reasons. Instead of feeling like it's hard to be veg you should test it out yourself. Your health is more important then a steak from Argentina and lard based beans from Mexico.

Travel is suppose to be fun and it drives me insane when people think the food is the thing that we should focus on. When I travel yes I think about food and at the same time I overall value the experience of being in a new place and continue to think what else I can do to learn more about the place I'm in at the moment. I don't need to eat meat to prove that I have gained a "real" life cultural experience.

I have to say that when I was in Barcelona I was the one picking the places we would eat and my dear non veg friend Rebecca enjoy it. She liked the vegetarian food that we got experience together. She was very respective to my diet as was I.

We need to stop thinking of veg people as problematic when it comes to eating. You should value the reason behind the choice in diet and I hope that can be respect.


Monday, February 15, 2010

Great News

I have just created a gmail account for any questions or anything that you might want for me to know about in the black veg world or anything that has to do with the black community or communities of color that I may want to add to my blog. I hope to hear from you all. My email address : black.veganism@gmail.com

Can't wait to hear from you.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Away to Stonehenge and Bath I GO !!!!!!

I had the chance to go to Stonehenge and Bath. Let's just say I enjoyed Stonehenge for what it had to offer at the same time I could not believe what I saw when to Bath. These are places that you should go when you are in the need to get away from the city of London or just want to have a nice little trip with friends and family.



The picture above is of Stonehenge. I'm not a fan of rocks but at the same time it was a nice way to start the morning out. We went to Stonehenge first and I might have to go back with my friends who may be visiting from Derry, Northern Ireland.





This is a picture of the Roman Baths

Next we headed to Bath which is about a good 40 minutes or more from Stonehenge. I could not believe my eyes. Bath is one of the most amazing places I have ever been in my life. The buildings, town, and everything else just made we want more of this place so I could take it home with me. It has so much history and I thought if these walls could talk they would tell me so much about what really happened in this town and the Roman Baths.


Food Time: Demuths Restaurant ( Positively Vegetarian)

This place was just amazing. I heard about it by looking at photo albums of my friend Petrina the Vegan. When I saw the photos of her meal and dessert I knew I had to make sure to get a table and tell you what I thought about the food and the restaurant as a whole.


Food is one of the most important things to me and I know to many of my readers. At the same time I want people to know that just because something does not have a animal by product or flesh in it does not mean it will be just horrible.



This was the tomato soup that I started off with 2 pieces of fresh bread and soya spread. It was just unbelievable and I could not wait to get my hands on the main course and at the the same time would have loved another serving of this delicious madness. ***** Five Stars out of Five



For the main course I had the mash with Veggie Links. It was tasty and rich. But something was really missing from the links. At the same time I could not put my spoon down to breath because it was just overwhelming to have this plate of mash and links in from of me and fully vegan. I would go back and have it again but request some more apple garnish stuff. **** Four out of Five




I was always tell people no vegan should end a meal without thinking about what they will have dessert. I was so happy to know that dessert was next on the menu for me. I was full and I knew I could not pass up dessert. So I had one of the best pieces of warm chocolate cake with chocolate on top and a scoop of soya ice cream. I was so sad to see it all disappear before my eyes. This is a must have at this wonderful place when you are in Bath. ***** Five out of Five

My experience in Stonehenge and Bath could not have been any better. I saw some historical place and had a great meal. What more can a Brooklyn Vegan ask for when traveling outside of London for the day.


More post to come. I'm a little backed up on posting because of my blog craziness.

Donnie on Blackveganism
.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Mildreds Vegetarian Restuarant and Midsummer (A Play with Song


London has so much for the vegan who is looking for something good to eat. I have been waiting so long to go to Mildred's because I had been told it's a place that I must try. Thanks to Carol J. Adams took the chance to have dinner at this famous eatery before heading to the theater. You should always have a good and cruelty free meal before you head out on a night on the town.


This was what I started out with a vegan burrito with a side salad. It was just amazing and I could not ask for anything else as I took slow bites into ever piece.


No meal could be considered complete without dessert. I thought this "cheesecake" brought to a great way to leave and head to the theater. It was one of the most delicious desserts I've had in London since my arrival.

Mildreds is the one place that advise everyone in London and who plans to come to London make sure you eat here. This place is amazing and the food is great as you can see. I felt very comfortable and could not wait to taste the food. I couldn't believe all of the great food I saw going to the tables and I plan to return to try something else and maybe I could encourage Mildreds to use less dairy and make more vegan. Otherwise, this is the place to be if you want to have a great home cooked meal and relax on a rainy day :)




MIDSUMMER ( A PLAY WITH SONGS) AT THE SOHO THEATER
When it comes to the play. I had a great time and I think it was a great thing to do after such a great meal. The food was everything that I needed an more. The play was funny, crazy, and everything I didn't expect. I love the cast and the purpose of the play. This is one thing you must do when in London go and see a play and enjoy everything that London has to offer.




Thursday, January 21, 2010

Food and More


The candy bar was just amazing it was about a 1.29 pounds.
No vegan should have to go without a sweet snack.

(Pad See Ew from a Taste of Thai 6.95 pounds)

London has given me so many opportunities to have fun and eat and eat more. I love this place :)

Many of my peers and close friends know I love to eat and I could not imagine myself not eating or cooking. I will share a meal with you today. I had Thai Food for lunch and it was yummy with a snack.

Who says that being vegan in London is hard. It's one of the most veg friendly places I have ever been.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Talk about London and more

What do you think about when you think about this place call London ? Most people think about sports, Buckingham Palace , and Harrods. Since I have become a vegan and shopping I think about food and shopping. Yes. London is a great place to be if these are two things you enjoy doing. I have had some amazing India food here and just make sure to say no ghee or cream.

Food in London is said to be plain and not tasty. But my vegan experience has been difference. I have enjoyed all of the food that I have cooked and eaten. From Thai to Pasta dishes have just been great to my tummy.

I will post photos and reviews soon :)

Monday, January 11, 2010

The Black Vegan in London

Hi All,

It has been a year since I have written anything on my blog space. I have decided I will do my best to get back into keeping up with my blog. I want to give people information on food, fun, and everything else that the black vegan is enjoying in London.

London is just amazing and my experience with the vegan options have been okay and I look forward to going to Brick Lane for some amazing Indian and I will be going out to check out some more veg places to eat.

Sainsbury is just amazing grocery. They have cheap soymilk and London cereals are pretty healthy for you unlike the states. I have been cooking and enjoying my experience so far. I will be planning a trip to Southhampton to visit my friend Petrina who is vegan and her partner can cook amazing vegan dishes and I can't wait to taste it all.

I will try to post at least once a week something new and cool. My dear friend Rebecca will be here in two days from Indiana to study for the semester as well. She's a great friend.

I can't wait to explore the land where the Vegan Society was founded. Until next time enjoy a pint.