bryantterry

since my second book (Vegan Soul Kitchen) was published in march a few bloggers (and commenters–oh how brave they are sitting behind their computers) have made some false statements about me. here is an email sent to a blogger that i decided to share publicly to address things that i have read and heard beyond this person.

dear XXXXXXXXXX

i respectfully request that you retract the false statements that you have been tweeting about me.

this morning, i was shocked to read your tweet: “@bryantterry is not a vegan & doesn’t even like veg food. He wrote a veg cookbook just to get his name out there. very sad.” given that this is not the first time that you have tweeted similar statements, i am wondering if you have something out for me.

i have publicly stated dozens of times in the media and in lectures that i do not identify as a vegan. i REFUSE to reduce my identity (or dietary choices) to a word. i’m a complex person. i have been practicing yoga for 10 years, and i don’t call myself a yogini. i follow the dharma, and i don’t call myself a buddhist. while many people find comfort in proclaiming that i’m this and that, i don’t find it useful.

now, even if i did choose to label my diet/politics i could not call myself a vegan since i eat my mom’s dairy-laden mac-n-cheese when i visit for thanksgiving (after years of screaming that she was going to hell for buying meat it’s my penance-ha, ha). that being said, beyond that holiday my values and politics are in alignment with those who identify as vegans; and when i am traveling the country or making media appearances i tout the health benefits of a low-fat vegan diet; i talk about animal rights just as much as human rights; and i teach people how to make yummy vegan dishes. saying “i’m a vegan, i’m a vegan” is less important to me than leading by example.

i identified as a vegan late in high school and in college, and my failed attempts at proselytizing by making people wrong for eating meat has lead me to use different tactics to educate people about the benefits of a plant-based diet. i’m not in this to be right or to look good. i’m trying to save lives (animal and human). given that i have been working to effect change around health, food, and agriculture issues in the most vulnerable communities for the past 10 years, i am confident that wearing “i’m a vegan” on my chest is not the best way to move people.

as for my latest book having “vegan” in the title. . . it was not my decision. while i was clear that i wanted to write a cookbook that presented african-american/southern food without animal and animal derived products, i did not want vegan in the title. i wrote this book for everyone–whether one identifies as omnivore, vegetarian, or vegan. i knew that those who identified as vegetarian or vegan would purchase the book when they discovered that it was devoid of animal products (and trust me i want those who identify as vegetarians and vegans to enjoy my food).

but given the fact that many omnivores have perceptions of vegetarians and vegans as finger-wagging, self-righteous, judgmental, dogmatic ideologues (not to mention thinking that vegan food is BLAND and BORING), i feared that having vegan in the title would scare non-vegetarians and vegans away. in the end, my publisher’s marketing department argued that “eco-soul kitchen” was too elusive and that “vegan soul kitchen” succinctly expresses what my book is about in a way that most of the public could “get it.” the great thing is that since my book has come out, i have had innumerable civil conversations with vegans that have strengthened my commitment to upholding these values publicly and privately. and i don’t need to call myself a vegan to do that.

how beautiful would it be for everyone to sit at a table and enjoy “vegan” food discussing how we can move our food system to a better place and not screaming at each other? that’s my goal.

while i could see how one might gather that i am not a vegan after hearing me say that “i do not identify as a vegan,” what on earth would lead you to write such a fallacious statement as “[he] doesn’t even like veg food”? given that i have never said anything to give one that impression, the fact that you wrote that makes me feel that you have some personal vendetta. given that we have never met to my knowledge, i don’t know why that would be the case. i can’t even write anymore about that statement since it is so ridiculous.

lastly, i am most troubled by your statement: “he wrote a veg cookbook just to get his name out there.” if we were to measure getting ones name out there by volume of media coverage, my name has been “out there” since 2003 when newsweek ran a feature article on a not-for-profit organization i founded to educate low-income youth about health, food, and agriculture issues. since then and before my latest book was published in march i have been in numerous print and online outlets (including the new york times, food and wine, and gourmet) as well as radio and television (including hosting a show on PBS). so i’ve been out there.

most importantly, however, i’m not doing this work to be “out there” or get rich and famous. i am working to build a more healthy, just and sustainable food system, and ensure that everyone has access to the food that you and i are so privileged to have at our fingertips everyday. for me, writing books is an organizing and base-building tool to contribute to one of the most hopeful movements of the 21st century–food justice.

given that you are a lawyer, i would have expected you to reach out to me and verify the false statements that you made about me publicly. next time, please do so.

i have cc’d XXXXXXXXXX in the marketing department at da capo press for her records.

regards,

bryant terry