In spirit of Black Out Tuesday, I have been posting resources for racial justice donation organizations, posts of education on white privilege and the BLM movement, exposure of peaceful protests and what the media fails to acknowledge on my Instagram stories. While many others have done the same, they have also encouraged people to support more black-owned businesses, individuals, organizations, and many more black-oriented areas of social media and culture for appreciation and heightened value of the masterpieces they offer.
For the past week, I made the conscious effort to find more black and African-American vegan YouTubers, blogs, and Instagrammers online. Truth be told, it was not super easy–in fact, it has been extremely time consuming and I find myself immersed in all kinds of pages! Granted, you can’t just search up “black vegan Instagram” and receive all the answers. At least for me, it took some digging, which is somewhat unfortunate given how uplifting it is for other black human beings to see people who emulate their culture and ethnicities to truly shine in veganism.
To be completely honest, this entire endeavor to find more black vegan social media platforms will not stop anytime soon. Look, this isn’t just going to be a trend for me and it shouldn’t be. I genuinely have been HUNGRY for diversity and POC representation in veganism! Moreover, it has been critical that I share individuals of all colors–light-skinned, dark-skinned, those in the middle–because colorism is truly a social and racial problem in our country. It is painful to see those with darker skin experience more discouragement from the lack of representation of acclaimed dark-skinned individuals as well as the flack they receive. While I have done my absolute best in discovering some black vegan platforms that I truly enjoy, I have hardly scratched the surface! There are still most likely WAY more black vegans online (those with larger vs. smaller followings alike)–hell, I just might have to make a whole Part 2 for this post!
Hopefully this list gives you a vivid and exciting sneak peek in the atmosphere of the vegan black community! There is so much richness in culture, positivity, creativity, intelligence, wisdom, and truth from them. Look forward to finding more like-minded vegans of diverse backgrounds and contributions to the world, whether through medical advice, chef creations, social justice, and more! (P.S.I featured several videos of eloquently articulated messages about the deaths of George Floyd Breonna Taylor, Armaud Arbery, Tamir Rice, and the countless individuals whose lives were stripped away from them mercilessly and with an unnecessary amount of police brutality. Please check out all the posts on Black Lives Matter from each of these accounts.)
@chefbabette: Meeting Chef Babette at last year’s Central Coast VegFest was such a remarkable encounter. She is insanely sweet and pasionate about aiding others in transitioning to a vegan diet and lifestyle, all with phenomenal vegan recipes and a wonderful-looking restaurant called Stuff I Eat to follow! Moreover, she promotes many exercise videos and plenty of informative pictures/videos/collages about revolutionizing the food industry with vegan cooking, tidbits in her restaurant kitchen, and of course, justice of social, political, and many other sectors for African-Americans.
@theplantbasedmd: Dr. Judy is such a breath of fresh air as she is one of the best plant-based doctors I’ve ever come across on Instagram! Her posts’ captions are insanely informative, transparent, and easy to comprehend! She is such a genuine and beautifully positive but true-to-the-evidence doctor, which is exactly the type of doctor we need more of on social media. Below are some of the most incredible posts she has, but this isn’t even the surface! I absolutely adore that Dr. Judy abides by the scientific consensus on COVID-19, vaccinations, and plant-based nutrition. She also shares plentifully about her experience studying for an MD. Honestly, her page is one of the best resources for credible vegan nutrition and physical health!
@iamtabithabrown: The light of the TikTok vegan world and the sunshine to EVERYONE’s day, you will fall in love with Tabitha Brown and her personality INSTANTLY. She is the beloved gem that motivates all kinds of people to get in touch with their souls, spread joy and compassion, and obviously, cook some tasty vegan grub! Even though she is genuinely happy 99% of the time, she is 100% honest and never hesitant on shedding light on heavy topics and prompting everyone to see each other as equals.
@badassvegan: If you love people who tell it like it is, discuss socially taboo topics, and actively promote critical causes such as animal rights, economic inequality, social justice, and emotional health, John Lewis’s Instagram page is the platform for you! John is incredibly transparent with his posts and always opens up his accounts for discussion, whether through the comments or DMs. I absolutely love many of his tweets regarding energy exchange and changing perspective as well as many other enlightening posts on the widespread racism against African-Americans.
@hailethomas: Oh em gee, talk about such wisdom and lovely light you can receive on the regular! Haile Thomas is an impressively articulate and wise young woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, find outlets of self-growth, and initiate others to enact political and social change such as voting, education, and financial contribution to organizations that fight for the same. Her discussions about widespread racism against African-Americans, its detriments towards the vegan movement, and instructions on becoming an ally to the Black Lives Matter movement are astoundingly compelling–the video listed nearly made me cry! Additionally, she will release a book about veganism with plenty of vegan recipes very soon!
Brown Vegan: Monique is such a heartwarming, charming, and intellectual soul. She has a multitude of delicious and easy recipes that are fabulous for people who are actively busy, enjoy a wide variety of foods (include those why may not be vegetable fanatics), and desire a more realistic take on veganism. Moreover, Monique has some spectacular videos featuring what her and her vegan family eat and the types of meals she packs for her kids! Best of all, she is incredibly transparent about her personal struggles, benefits, and overall experience with veganism.
@chefcharitymorgan: If you have seen The Game Changers and Charity’s marvelous-looking meals in her scenes, you would completely understand why I needed to include her on this list! Her meals range from hardcore healthy athlete fuel like tofu scrambles and Buddha bowls to colorful and creative indulgences such as croissant sandwiches and fried vegan egg rolls. Moreover, I absolutely adore how beautiful her food photography is as well as her vibrant personality and passion for sports and veganism!
@plantbasedg.life: Marlon is such a wondrous, passionate, kind, and warm spirit (my friend and I met him at the Vegan Street Fair a couple years back!). His transformational weight loss (down >150 pounds!) ignites thousands of people to give veganism a try, but his platform extends beyond much more. While encouraging others to go vegan, he teaches them how to use veganism to help surrounding individuals feel their absolute best inside and out with plenty of motivational quotes and profiles of other inspirational people (Black Lives Matter is no exception–he has tirelessly posted about the injustices Black people face). But of course, the food photography game is SPOT ON–a vibrant mix of restaurant eats and home-cooked masterpieces! Be sure to check out his Quarantine15 cookbook as well!
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@sweetpotatosoul: It is absolutely NO surprise that Jenne is included on the list once more! Nobody can stress enough as to how kindhearted, knowledgeable, and all-around loving of a person she is and how devout she is to veganism and using it to flourish in terms of physical and mental health. With her family, she exemplifies how crucial it is to create a compassionate, tolerant, and respectful environment for the younger generations through veganism, not supporting sweatshops, and of course, with Black Lives Matter and the BIPOC movement. Moreover, she has plenty of resources for those who aim to be vegan on a budget–there are all kinds of yummy and nourishing recipes on her blog and many more on her Instagram!
The Chic Natural: The ever popular Kim generally discusses everything hair care, beauty, fashion, self-care, and lifestyle topics, but she also has many wonderful videos on veganism, from recipe tutorials to tips on the lifestyle! Kim is extremely knowledgeable in all kinds of facets, but the depth of knowledge is absolutely phenomenal. She explains every subject in detail but in a comprehensive manner. I loved learning about her vegan pregnancy journey as well–it is always incredible to see thriving vegan parents aspire to raise more vegan children for future generations. Seriously, you will adore her wealth of videos on YouTube!
@rachelama: ERMAGHERD…I’ve mentioned her once but I will again: Rachel is an absolutely LIGHT in the vegan universe. She has the brightest smile, the most vibrant personality, and a serious expertise on lovely vegan recipes that scream flavorful, vivid, comforting, but easy to whip up! What’s fantastic is how she tackles on cuisines that are not as widely known, such as Burmese and Caribbean. Amidst the political and social climate we are currently experiencing, her platform is such a shining source of joy–honestly, her YouTube videos AND Instagram are some of my favorites.
@whatsgoodberto: Likewise, Berto is another platform I must praise a second time around! He truly exudes this sense of spiritual depth and intellect you hardly see elsewhere. In regards to Black Lives Matter, he is extremely transparent about how he was raised to practice extra caution for his survival and his civil rights as a black man. Though devastating to hear, it is important to do so, especially given his own experience with being pulled over and mentally preparing for murder in cold blood. Berto’s take on veganism is very balanced with countless varieties of foods–both nutritious and indulgent–but no surprise, all exemplary of NEVER skipping out on flavor and deprivation!
Toni Mitchell: Ah, Toni’s channel is MAGNIFICENT in many ways, especially when it comes to sculpting beautifully toned muscles (and with many workouts being at home!), nourishing your body, and feeling confident with yourself! Her videos never fail to put a smile on my–or really, anyone’s!–face no matter what the occasion. On her Instagram, she addresses in her bio that she is an ethical vegan, which is AMAZING given that the ethical argument for veganism is astoundingly strong. Lastly, she has an entire IG story dedicated to Black Lives Matter with much information regarding how necessary it is to amplify Black voices.
@cocoalizzy: Lizzy is SUCH a cool and marvelous person for numerous reasons–firstly, she is vegan; next, extremely kind and lighthearted; thirdly, has a marvelous sense of style; finally, she is very outspoken about Black Lives Matter. Moreover, she is part-Japanese and fluent in the Japanese language, but that isn’t a defining factor in why I love her platform so much. All around, Lizzy is such a gorgeous spirit, inside and out–obviously, I must mention that her vegan food Instagram is PHENOMENAL! While her photos aren’t necessarily set up to look extra decked out for a photoshoot (which is sometimes a strength), her meals look delicious!
Ghetto Vegans: Hands down, the sweetest mukbang family EVER! While I don’t watch the videos featuring their kids (though they are really energetic, adorable, and sweet), I absolutely adore Marie and King D because of how genuine they are and their friendly energy! Both of them have undergone remarkable weight loss transformations and credit veganism as one of their tools to do so! They review all kinds of products from Beyond Meat to Panda Express’s vegan menu, but on top of that, have some vlogs, recipe tutorials, and grocery hauls. If you do not like the sound of chewing, food being mixed, then watch their non-mukbang videos.
@charlie_fyffe: Having met Charlie before countless times, as well as enjoying his magical vegan brownies several times, I can say that with utmost certainty that Charlie is a BAD ASS entrepreneur and an excellent baker. His creations at every street fair and vegan event are always a top dessert with Instagram raving about his treats left and right–they are THAT yummy (and are completely gluten free and composed of wholesome ingredients!)! Additionally, he is incredibly fervent about speaking up against the violence and racism against Black people, posting about them on a regular, if not daily, basis on his Instagram, as well as encouraging vegans to do the same.
@shinewithplants: SHOCKER, I had to re-introduce Fabiola and her gorgeous family! All of them are vegan and center their diets and lifestyles around nourishment, whether it be through fruits and vegetables or a workout or walk outdoors. They have the most joyful and positive energies that can brighten not just a room, but a whole city, as corny as that may sound! Fabiola’s pictures are insanely stunning–I mean, of course she herself is a stunning person, plus her food creations are always vibrant and delicious-looking! Similarly to Jenne, Fabiola constantly emphasizes how critical it is to be kind, tolerant, and respectful of everyone around us to cultivate a safer and more welcoming environment for all types of people and younger generations to come.
@yesbabyilikeitraw: If you need a ray of sunshine from a phone screen, go to Nzingah’s Instagram page! A Haitian American, Nzingah flourishes when nurturing the arts and giving back to the community. Moreover, she has been vegan for 18 1/2 years (WHAT?!) and always showcases the most beautiful plant-based dishes, most refreshing self-care routines, and mental health check-ins. What I adore about her is how she embraces her body for what it is and prioritizes emotional and spiritual wellness as much as physical health (seriously…everyone talks about food 24/7 and it is phenomenal to see Nzingah’s restorative posts!).
WholeElise: What a skincare GODDESS! Elise’s channel is absolutely wonderful for anyone interested in natural homemade skincare products and rituals that are suitable for all kinds of skin types. Her beauty radiates from the inside out and her energy is extremely calming and soothing. The videos are gorgeously edited as well with time stamps and stunning backdrops! Her channel also includes a plethora of simple vegan recipes that are incredibly nourishing. I cannot stress enough how much you will ADORE Elise’s videos! Seriously–I have to try her skincare recipes ASAP!
@icanyoucanvegan: Three words to describe Desiree’s Instagram page would be passionate, vibrant, and inspiring! Her vegan recipes and meals look spectacular (the chicken fried cauliflower and black eyed peas ANY DAY) with many of them possessing a Southern twist in correspondence with her roots. She runs a marvelous vegan blog with more specific breakdowns of her recipes along with lovely travel posts, so we have both food envy and vacation envy! Regardless, Desiree is extremely humble and active with promoting veganism for Black women (especially in regards to BLM and she is quite passionate about the movement) and, of course, every type of person across Instagram and the Internet. She and her platforms are truly marvelous!
@kindred.vegan.souls: Malinda’s Instagram page never fails to brighten my day–really, anyone’s day! She is a lawyer, animal lover, fabulous cook, beauty fanatic, and a vegan foodie (like many of us!) who prides herself in whipping up aesthetic, colorful, and delicious vegan meals such as breakfast sandwiches, tacos, Buddha bowls, sliders, donuts, and much more. Her insight in many subjects such as self-care and personal reflection is extremely thoughtful, which is always wonderful–who doesn’t love a nice dose of wisdom every day?
@beetsbybrooke: Vegan medical student? Cheerleading them ALL DAY LONG, EVERY DAY! Brooklynne is a vegan (has been for seven years!) who is dedicated to sharing the most beautiful posts on plant-based nutrition and more information on medicine, health care, culture, mindfulness, and the anatomy of the science field. Her posts regarding the racial roots in the medical industry and the racism in health care discrepancies are immensely informative but easy to understand. You have to give her massive credit for speaking up on these issues because many are scared to do so. She is insanely intelligent, passionate about her work, and truly is revolutionizing the vegan medical sector!
@vegan_at_tiffs: Gorgeous posts with intellectual, mindful, and resonant captions, along with a woman who has the most beautiful smile? AND she is vegan? It is possible to have it all! In utmost honesty, Tiff has some of the most stunning food photos on Instagram as well as some of the most insightful ones, specifically on her sexuality, healing techniques, being Black, and being vegan. There are all kinds of photos of vegan food from London (and many other parts of the world!) that will never fail to make you salivate. Also, how can I forget–her cat Sebby is SO adorable that I almost turn into a cat person over a dog person sometimes. Seriously.
One Great Vegan: If you enjoy vibrant recipes that are creative, easy, visually appealing, and prepared and cooked with vivacious energy that is a little bit musical, Gabrielle’s channel One Great Vegan is the PERFECT match for you! Not only is she a great actress and singer, but her cooking skills are TOP NOTCH (figuratively, after all–her whole channel and Instagram are centered around the tastiest vegan recipes!); you won’t ever find a boring-looking meal on her platform and none of her videos are the same way! Her energy just radiates positively and vivaciousness that you can’t help but feel more revved up after watching one of her videos!
Thank you all so much for your patience! Not that these are excuses, but I was studying intensively, packing for San Francisco, reading up on systemic racism and educational topics in that regard, AND trying to maintain personal sanity. It’s not always easy, folks!