Black Vegan Mammy-ism: Sacrificing My Emotional Health for the White Vegan Status Quo

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Black Vegan Mammy-ism: Sacrificing My Emotional Health for the Vegan Status Quo
July 14, 2011
tags: breeze harper, mammy, mammyism, sistah vegan, vegan, veganism, whiteness
by Breeze Harper

In this video I talk about how I struggle with not being a "mammy" when it comes to accommodating the emotional needs of particular white vegans who do not extend mindfulness to me when they talk to me about 'their' post-racial view of veganism.

Here is a useful article to read to understand more about what I mean by "mammyism" . I don't agree with a lot in this article, but it does give a basic premise of mammyism:

Abdullah, Afi Samelia. "Mammy-Ism: A Diagnosis of Psychological Misorientation for Women of African Descent." JOURNAL OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGY 24, no. 2 (1998): 196-210.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• breeze harper
• sistah vegan
• mammyism
• veganism
• whiteness

[drroberson4]

That is so heavy...the burden that you are carrying. Dear, your research is showing the truth. Be yourself!! You are an intelligent woman!! Please do not suppress who you are. You can say what you want without being rude. I am not going to make comparisons and say to do it because they do it..but I think you should feel free to be you. I do not care who it is. Be blessed dear!! :)

[sistahvegan]

@drroberson4 Thanks so much for the support.

[Vishjali]

As for dealing with other people, I think you may find it beneficial to understand where the person is coming from, why they would say such things, and perhaps why they would have barriers to your ideas etc.

Once you understand where they are coming from you will find it hard to be annoyed or angered by them, regardless of whether they are vegan or privilaged. And if you can try be less attached to wanting to convince the person. It takes a lot of the mindfullness as you mentioned in your video

[sistahvegan]

@Vishjali Thanks. I am getting better with letting go, but I think this particular person has been 'targeting' me and was simply not sure how to respond and how to be emotionally harmonious about it. Since posting this video and getting a lot of emotional support, I am feeling much better about letting go and just seeing that this one particular person who does this to me maybe struggles with true happiness and contentment.

[RAWHEBREW]

I am really trippin on how my sistah actually took up the nerve and spoke about this subject, that many of her people have thought about but never really mentioned.

This subject is so true.

[sistahvegan]

@RAWHEBREW I am trying to let go of fear and just trying to speak to truth. It feels liberating to do so and allows me to let people who feel the same, but may be scared to show this publicly, that they are not alone. I will continue writing my dissertation that makes this suffocating normative whiteness and expectations that people of color be 'silent' about the obviousness of racisms, apparent in my manuscript.

[MsGamine2]

Sister, your pain is running rampant through you and in your Magnificent State? Mindfully, you must examine the edges of this Sword of Damocles which you actually choose to hold over your own head. It is impossible to put down as long as you are expecting sustenance from those who know they OWN you. I am a Black Womb-man Vegan myself and though it may not be possible for the career path you have in mind? I focus ONLY on the RESCUE of We BLACK PEOPLE & couldn't care LESS what white people say.

[SheaAddiktion]

I so love this video!!! It is so hard a s black woman in a predominately white atmosphere to express yourself verbally without being taken as too aggressive, militant or hostile. It makes me angry that I can hear white women say foul vile things and if I say anything I have an attitude or I'm aggressive. Its stressful always having to pick your words carefully at all times when they can speak freely without much issue

[fashionerdxo]

well as a Black fashion blogger, I def go through the same thing. There are many topics within the realm of racism in fashion that I would love to address but I don't want to come of as abrasive or an angry black woman. Therefore I have to watch what I say and word everything in a certain tone. It really f*cking bugs me but as long as I am alive and black this will go on. So sad, you are beautiful btw! <3

[IAMWILLETTE]

I am a Black woman just getting into juicing, raw, and MOTHER LAND foods. I do believe that by nature, we are compassionate. BEING that we Are the mother RACE, it is difficult to hurt our CHILDREN. That's the way I see it, now. I remember having a couple of White associates invited over to my home and because I didn't them to feel comfortable or offened, I removed some pictures of Black Jesus from my walls. I didn't want them to think I was a angry Black militant.

[Shivelybanetek]

I guess its impossible for any black American to talk about black on white or even black on light skinned black racism. BTW most vegans have no idea how to be a healthy vegan and get all their nutrients from mixing and matching the right combination of veggys etc. BTW I agree with what you said about the mammy

[MrTomglondon]

I'm so glad to have come across this, thanks for educating me x

[AllieEmet]

Personally, I find it best to cut these sort of exchanges short. I'll simply say, "I'm not going to have this conversation" and then suggest what that person might want to research if they're really interested in the topic. In my opinion, they are usually NOT genuinely interested. If they were they would have previously studied the subject on their own and there would be little need for the very conversation they're attempting to have. Don't let them waste your energy, sis. Peace :)

[kizziAug]

Pt.2- at first when I saw it. I guess I am big on finding a way to bring healing and freedom from our own mental slavery, that is living ourselves based in our past or out fear of what others think of us in this society. It's tough for us trying to come to terms with the past in a present time where everyone acts like it didn't happen. I say all this to say I get it, your journey and pray you find peace and balance and people who are willing to understand why this is important to us. :-)

[kizziAug]

I am a black woman and I am vegan. I think its great your studies with race and veganism. And there is a lot I can identify with and understand, with transitioning to natural even and just the subtleness of racism at times. But I do feel like the entire population of whites etc are not out to get us, a lot of it is a lack of understanding etc. I would say to best way is to live out what we desire for ourselves. I was not sure what your video was about, because the title seemed racist too.