The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan by Jasmin Singer

Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation

Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation - Jasmin Singer

Sixteen essays on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in animal advocacy.

Inspired by Encompass’ racial equity trainings, this collection of essays was written by farmed animal protection leaders who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity, as we work to create a more effective and just animal protection movement. We wish to document our stories and processes in an exploratory space from which we can grow and use our words to hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ultimately creating new paths forward.

The essayists were all attendees of the 2020 inaugural Encompass DEI Institute.

Essays include:

  • “From Speaking Up for Animals to Becoming an Antiracist,” by Rachel Huff-Wagenborg
  • “Using Research and Data to Create an Inclusive Animal Rights Movement,” by Brooke Haggerty
  • “How My Cultural Identity Informs My Animal Advocacy,” by Unny Nambudiripad
  • “Animal Advocates: It’s Time We Move from Performance to True Antiracism,” by Aryenish Birdie
  • “Oppression without Hierarchy: Racial Justice and Animal Advocacy,” by Michelle Rojas-Soto
  • “How Racism in Animal Advocacy and Effective Altruism Hinders Our Mission,” by Michelle Graham

Buy the Book

Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Bookshop

Praise for Antiracism in Animal Advocacy

  • “Acknowledging racism is a problem in the animal advocacy movement is fundamental towards addressing the issue. This collection of essays provides an excellent springboard for white people and their entities to do antiracist work while strengthening the infrastructure of the animal advocacy community.”

    Omowale Adewale
    Founder of Black VegFest and co-founder of Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME), and Editor of “Brotha Vegan”

  • “I can tell you that I am encouraging everyone I know and work with to read these essays. To further animal advocacy, we must confront the limitations of a movement that has struggled to address racial equity.”

    Monica Chen
    Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition

  • “An honest and compelling set of reflections about why we need to build an antiracist animal advocacy movement - and what it will take for us to do it.”

    Jeff Sebo
    Clinical Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Affiliated Professor of Bioethics, Medical Ethics, and Philosophy, and Director of the Animal Studies M.A. Program, New York University

  • “Antiracism in Animal Advocacy is at least three critically important things: (1) an honest reckoning of oppression in an anti-oppression movement, (2) a collective call to antiracist action from people across that movement, and (3) a clear vision for what a truly justice-based animal advocacy movement could—and ought—to be.”

    Paul Gorski
    Ph.D., founder, Equity Literacy Institute

  • “Even as a vegan of 20+ years, I hadn’t thought much about the intersection of race, equity, and animal advocacy. Every essay in this collection taught me something. Vital and thought-provoking.”

    Vu Le
    Writer of NonprofitAF.com

  • “This crucial collection illuminates why racial justice in animal advocacy is imperative if we truly wish to end exploitation and oppression.”

    David Bronner
    Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO), Dr. Bronner’s

  • “The animal protection movement, just like all advocacy movements, has its own progress to make to represent the global majority and create a more inclusive movement. This is that powerful and necessary first step towards change.”

    Jennifer Brown
    Advocate and author, Inclusion (2017) and How to be an Inclusive Leader (2019)

  • “An essential series of thoughtful, challenging, and vulnerable essays on the vital role antiracism work can and must play in animal advocacy. This is a must-read for anyone who understands that antiracism is important but struggles to apply the ideas in a practical way to their work and activism.”

    Evanna Lynch
    Actor and activist

  • “I dare you to read this book and tell me that racial justice isn’t important in animal advocacy.”

    Dolores Huerta
    Labor leader, women’s rights and civil rights activist, co-founder, National Farmworkers Association, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Public Speaking

With over 15 years of experience presenting workshops on subjects including veganism and animal rights, Jasmin’s unique ability to connect to an audience with humor, personal stories, and information presented in a friendly, accessible way is what makes her a favorite at events throughout the country and beyond. She has spoken at hundreds of events, including VegFests, conferences, bookstores, and more.

Jasmin is available for speaking engagements

Learn More