The sidewalk outside Weeksville Heritage Center turned into a Black vegan utopia on Aug. 12 to the delight of vegans and omnivores alike, with several vendors serving up totally vegan samosas, roti, eggplant parmesan, fried chicken, curry, cornbread and more as part of Brooklyn's sixth annual Black vegan festival.
Black Vegfest was created by Omowale Adewale to support first-year vegans while also offering opportunities for Black vegan vendors in Brooklyn. The event happens every August to celebrate Black August, a month dedicated to freedom fighters and the collective fight against oppression.
Vendor Rich Williams, the founder of Lover Rocks Sea Moss, said the annual event is crucial because it emphasizes the health benefits of plant-based eating. His sea moss-based products are sourced from the Caribbean and rich in vitamins and minerals and can be taken as a daily health supplement.
“I came to Black Vegfest because I wanted to make sure that I support the Black community in this journey of people becoming vegan and understanding the importance of that lifestyle,” said Williams. “We are more likely to suffer from food-related illnesses — high blood pressure, diabetes, et cetera — and if we can get the word out there about the health benefits of vegan eating, it will help the Black community indefinitely."
Vendor Sandra Mathis said she began her journey with veganism as a way to address health issues in her family. Now, she runs her own online restaurant, Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens.
“What got me into it was actually my family and the sicknesses that they actually have — high blood pressure, diabetes and stuff like that," Mathis said. “You can have the same food without adding meat to it. I have fried chicken, I have collard greens, I have cornbread, I have yams — it’s all vegan."
Mathis said that since veganism gets a bad reputation, it's important to showcase the diversity of vegan food and make plant-based eating fun.
“You come out and see diverse food options. Not only soul food or Jamaican food. You see Indian food, Mexican food,” Mathis said. “It’s an awareness to let people know that 'Hey, you can eat vegan food and not have to stop having your favorites.'”
In addition to health benefits, Vegfest attendees from the Hare Krishna Temple in Downtown Brooklyn told BK Reader about the spiritual aspect of vegan food.
“Specifically for us, we can share spiritual food with people. This food, we offer it to God before we take it. So anybody who partakes in this food will also be blessed,” Gopal Champu said while eating vegan roti with curry, barbecued seitan and eggplant parmesan.
“It’s really great to have these open spaces, these community spaces where people can come together, break bread, learn about new foods, learn and to support each other,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for.”
