It’s been incredible witnessing the growth of Frugivore’s Black Vegetarian Series, featuring both men and women. As expected, a plethora of information and resources have been shared in each profile. From books to websites, there seem to be a few vegetarian leaders that continuously pop up. Below is a list of four books for and by black vegetarians that seem to be rocking your veg world.

1. Breeze Harper’s Sistah Vegan might just change your life. Chronicling the stories of black female vegans across the United States, it proves that there’s power in first-person narratives of the vegan lifestyle. Sistah Vegan explores food politics, identity, sexuality, health, womanism, feminism, decolonization, anti-racism, eco-sustainability, and animal rights through the lens of the black female vegan experience. It is the first volume of its kind to address the racialized-gender vegan experience in the USA. The book is sure to inspire and remind black women that there’s community in veganism.

2. Chef Bryant Terry’s Vegan Soul Kitchen is a must have for those who long for southern cooking with a vegan spin. The recipes are accessible with commonly-used ingredients and serving recommendations. Terry uses cooking as a tool to illuminate the intersections of poverty, structural racism, and food insecurity. He’s also the author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, and has made appearances on The Martha Stewart Show and Emeril Green. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Oprah, Vegetarian Times, and Yoga Journal.

3. Queen Afua’s Sacred Woman is more than a “guide to healing the feminine body, mind and spirit.” It’s become the bible for black women seeking a healthier lifestyle, particularly when it comes to vegetarianism. There have been communities built around Sacred Woman chapters with an international level of sisterhood. If you’re seeking the spiritual importance of nurturing your body through a healthy diet, Sacred Woman is for you.

4. Tracye McQuirter’s By Any Greens Necessary is described as “a wake-up call for women who dream of staying healthy and slim without sacrificing great food and gorgeous curves.” If you’re staying in a black female vegetarian’s house, it’s likely that McQuirter’s book is in her collection. Packed with recipes and McQuirter’s personal journey from meat-eater to vegan, it provides a real life snapshot of health and the impact of a healthy diet. McQuirter has been featured in The Washington Post, NPR, Essence, Ebony, FOX 5, NBC 4, The Tavis Smiley Show, The Chicago Sun-Times,  and VegTV. She also directed the Vegetarian Society of DC Eat Smart program, the nation’s first federally-funded and community-based vegan nutrition program.

If any of these authors have impacted your eating journey, share your story! Also, feel free to drop a comment if another veg book has inspired you.

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10 Comments

  1. Kudos on the list, black vegetarians are sprouting up! Along with an a-list of authors.
    The four authors/books featured are apart of my collections and here’s a few more that I like and continue to reference.

    Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy, by Afya Ibomu, Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Foods and Quick and Easy Vegan Celebrations by http://www.AliciaCSimpson.com, Throwin’ Down Vegetarian Style by Martha Theus, Quick Fasting by Nathaniel Bronner, http://www.quickfasting.com,Caribbean Vegan by Taymer Mason, The Goddess of Raw Foods by, http://www.nwennakai.com and Life it Detox by Latrice Folkes, http://www.lifeitdetox.com

  2. i have 2 out of 4. i’m doing good!

  3. Greetings I am Raw Vegan chef food Instructor Njide of Rawk N’ Vegan. I would like to invite all out to come out to the Social gathering held monthly. Tell your story with others. On my journey I didn’t meet that many African vegans. My intern and trails came from getting out and giving demo classes on raw food and vegan benefits. My next event is a class “Non GMO Foods” with light refreshments. Oct 14, 2013 Mon. 6p-8p free. Free my community service to assist those wanting to eat healthier.
    visit http://www.rawknwiththevegan.com let all keep in touch and support one another. vegan since 1999 started in 1996

  4. OMG…….lol
    This is not even half the books I’ve recently collected, since going VEGAN, I’m still at it….i have ALL 4 of Bryant Terry books, ALL 3-4 of Alecia Simpsons, Yes…Queen Afuas and he. Son, Supa Nova Slom-The Remedy, Afya Ibomu-Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy (Pimp my Tofu dvd)
    Diane Ciccone-Heal Thyself Cookbook…,,I started with Ms McQuirter, in which she with DICK GREGORY- Natural Diet for folk who eat:Cooking with Mother Nature…
    Wheew!!!
    All good….

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