Vegan is to Antiracist as Vegetarian is to Nonracist

What is an antiracist?

An antiracist idea is any idea that suggests the racial groups are equals in all their apparent differences — that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group. Antiracist ideas argue that racist policies are the cause of racial inequities. ~Kendi, Ibram X.. How to Be an Antiracist (p. 20, ch 1).

What is a nonracist?

It is a claim that signifies neutrality: “I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.” ~Kendi, Ibram X.. How to Be an Antiracist (p. 9, introduction).

What is veganism?

“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”

What is vegetarianism?

Vegetarian is the practice of abstaining from meat, ( red meat, poultry, seafood, and the flesh of any other animal), and may also include abstention from by-products of animal slaughter.

Based on those definitions, antiracism is an idea that rejects all forms of racial inequality and racism, and veganism seeks to exclude all forms of animal cruelty and exploitation, which is why I made the parallel between the two. The two are not the same as antiracism is referring to discrimination and prejudice towards humans, veganism refers to non-human animals.

The reason for which I make the parallel between vegetarianism and nonracism is that a non-racist is someone who will most likely claim to not participate in racism and uphold an egalitarian view. Many vegetarians in my opinion hold similar views. I feel as though they think they are not causing harm to animals, and are likely to be vegetarian for animal welfare concerns. Although I do acknowledge that people become vegetarians for many reasons, not all include animal welfare as one of them.

Vegetarianism, in theory, can be a rejection of animal cruelty, but in practice, it is simply a diet that still permits the cruelty and exploitation of animals in various forms.

1.) Vegetarian diets can include the consumption of eggs and dairy. The dairy industry and egg industry still participate in animal cruelty, some saying it to be the worst.

2.) Because vegetarianism is strictly a diet, it does not include the exclusion of animal cruelty in clothing, entertainment, medicine, and research, or other forms of animal cruelty.

So because many vegetarians claim to love and respect animals, yet participate directly or indirectly in other forms of animal cruelty, I compare them to nonracists because they are not aggressively fighting against speciesism and carnism in all of its forms.

Now the Vegan society states that there are many ways to live a vegan lifestyle but what all vegans have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish and insects), dairy, eggs and honey — as well as avoiding animal-derived materials, products tested on animals and places that use animals for entertainment.

Because of the more direct and intentional exclusion of animal products and animal exploitation, I view veganism as more of a parallel to antiracism. Although, I do acknowledge that every vegan varies in their level of intentions in regards to the exclusion of animal cruelty. This is why I also compare the philosophy of veganism to antiracism and not individual persons (vegan or antiracist).

THE GOOD NEWS is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be a racist one minute and an antiracist the next. What we say about race, what we do about race, in each moment, determines what — not who — we are. ~Kendi, Ibram X.. How to Be an Antiracist (p. 10, introduction).

I love this quote by Ibram, as he explains that antiracism and racism are a spectrum. One is not permanently racist or antiracist. Each action of ours will either be racist or antiracism. I believe the same to be true in regards to veganism. A person who identities as a vegan can still uphold carnist and speciesist beliefs as well as carry out those beliefs through their actions.

A vegetarian for example carries out vegan values by not eating certain animal products but also carries out carnism and or speciesism by consuming dairy and eggs, wearing fur, buying pets from breeders, going to zoos, riding horses, elephants and camels, buying cosmetics tested on animals, etc.

During my journey of veganism, I have upheld certain speciesist and carnist beliefs, as well as carried them out in my actions. A few months ago I got new tattoos. I never thought about the possibility of the ink, and other products used during the tattoo process, having been derived from animals. So despite my adherence to veganism, I blindly participated in the system of animal exploitation.

Whether I adhere to antiracism or veganism, I acknowledge that I will continue to make mistakes, because neither is truly a fixed state. But as I continue to learn, I will make fewer mistakes, because when we know better we do better.

Lastly, I also think it’s essential to clarify that I acknowledge that veganism and antiracism are two separate movements for different species. However, due to the similarities in values, I made a comparison of them both. In addition, this perspective of mine is not trying to demonstrate a level of moral superiority between vegans, vegetarians, or people who eat meat. I am not in that position to claim moral superiority. For myself, however, I do think that if I want to live a life consistent with the values of antiracism it would only make logical sense to apply a similar stance for nonhuman animals and against speciesism and carnism, which is why I adhere to veganism. I am vegan because just like human life, I respect the lives of animals and I respect their inherent rights robbed by humans.