An organizer from one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing vegan festivals, VegfestUK, has announced a new venture. The world’s first ever Black vegan festival, ‘Black VegFest’, is set to launch this August.
This event is being organized by Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME), a 16-year-old, not-for-profit organization. G.A.ME is responsible for ensuring that Black Vegfest addresses socio-economic and political issues of the Black and Latino community. Based on previous events, organisers anticipate an attendance of over 7,500 people and a mix of people from all walks of life.
“Black VegFest aims to address food sovereignty in poor communities of color, women’s rights, unhealthy food in our neighborhoods, gender bias, environmental pollution, gentrification, and animal suffering. Workshop topics are geared to explore more critical thoughts about our food system and what kind of society we want to live in. Black VegFest will be free and open to the public,” the organizers of VegfestUK said.
“We’re thrilled to be one of the official supporters for the first Black Vegfest. Veganism is a global movement and for too long too many vegan events have not addressed the many issues that stand in the way of veganism becoming accessible to all. Black Vegfest will help change that and we support Black Vegfest and its aims 100%.”
In anticipation of this upcoming cultural event, Black Vegfest’s founder Omowale Adewale and his partner Nadia Muyeeb will be keynote speakers at the 16th annual VegfestUK Bristol, in May.
An extract from Black Vegfest’s mission statement reads: “Our “Black” in Black VegFest is purposeful, but not a different kind of veganism. It’s an extension of community activism for black and poor and oppressed peoples everywhere.”
Black Vegfest adds that they approach the community with love, compassion and understanding, devoid of long-winded and irrelevant plights of activism – such as comparing non-veganism with slavery.
Black VegFest’s website adds: “Intersectionality is addressing those causes and issues we have in common and are most passionate about. Like specieism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, ageism, etc.”
“Be and come as you are. All are welcome at the Black Vegfest.”
This event will be held on the 11th of August on Herkimer St. between Ralph Ave. and Howard Ave., New York.
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