Sixteen essays on the importance of racial equity in animal advocacy.
Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation is a collection of writings by farmed animal protection advocates who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity as they work to create a more just animal protection movement. The essayists were all attendees of Encompass’ 2020 Racial Equity Institutes.
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
For more, see the video.
“An important, provocative, and accessible book. It has an urgent message for us all.”—Congressman Jamie Raskin
“I dare you to read this book and tell me that racial justice isn’t important in animal advocacy.”—Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
“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, Founder of the 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) of Dr. Bronner’s
“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
“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 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, author, Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves, and Director of the Animal Studies M.A. Program, New York University
“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 book is that powerful and necessary first step towards change.”—Jennifer Brown, advocate and author, Inclusion (2017) and How to be an Inclusive Leader (2019)
