Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation

by Jasmin Singer (Editor), Aryenish Birdie (Contribution by), Michelle Rojas-Soto (Contribution by)

Overview

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, whose work was originally published in Sentient Media, and is reprinted with their permission, were all attendees of Encompass’s 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

Videos: youtu.be/m8o7Qu2PorI

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590566480
Publisher:	Lantern Publishing & Media
Publication date:	09/21/2021
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jasmin Singer (Editor) is the cofounder and cohost of Our Hen House, an award-winning media nonprofit that produces podcasts that aim to change the world for animals. She is the author of The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan and Always Too Much and Never Enough: A Memoir.

Aryenish Birdie is the founder and executive director of Encompass. In addition to her more than two decades in animal protection, Aryenish has worked in other social justice movements, including those striving for racial justice, queer liberation, and reproductive freedom.

Michelle Rojas-Soto previously served as managing director of Encompass, where she trained, coached, and consulted with animal protection leaders and organizations. Michelle is focused on creating equitable systems so that future generations on Earth thrive.

Table of Contents

My Journey to Creating an Antiracist Animal Advocacy Movement

Foreword Aryenish Birdie 1

Self-Discovery and the Pursuit of Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy

Introduction Jasmin Singer 15

Awakening

Chinese Eyes: Exploring Identity and White Supremacy in Animal Rights Shayna Rowbotham 31

White Veganism Doesn't Serve Me Either: A White Vegan's Perspective PJ Nyman 44

How Philanthropy in Farmed Animal Advocacy Reinforces White Bubbles Mikaela Saccoccio 53

From Speaking Up for Animals to Becoming Antiracist Rachel Huff-Wagenborg 58

Introspection

As a Black Man, I Felt Uncomfortable Becoming an Animal Activist Christopher Eubanks 69

Racism in Me, the Movement, and the Meat Industry Jamie Berger 75

How My Cultural Identity Informs My Animal Advocacy Unny Nambudiripad 86

The Need for Ethical Consistency in Animal Advocacy Malina Tran 92

Accountability

How Confronting My White Privilege Is Making Me a Better Animal Activist Cailen LaBarge 103

What I've Learned by Applying an Antiracist Framework to My Animal Advocacy Dana McPhall 115

Using Research and Data to Create an Inclusive Animal Rights Movement Brooke Haggerty 128

Leading

Oppression Without Hierarchy: Racial Justice and Animal Advocacy Michelle Rojas-Soto 143

International Animal Protection Is Stronger When It's Antiracist Stien van der Ploeg 157

How Racism in Animal Advocacy and Effective Altruism Hinder Our Mission Michelle Graham 165

Animal Advocates: It's Time We Move from Performance to True Antiracism Aryenish Birdie 176

Antiracism Is a Verb, Not a Noun

Afterword Michelle Rojas-Soto 187

Glossary of Terms 191

Resources 195

Acknowledgments 197

About the Editors

About the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

"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

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

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

Dolores Huerta

An important, provocative and accessible book. It has an urgent message for us all."

Congressman Jamie Raskin

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

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

David Bronner

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

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

"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

"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