Bryant Terry
Bryant Terry is an African-American chef and a passionate advocate for food justice, and is widely recognized for his contributions as an author and vegan culinary expert.
He has authored four cookbooks dedicated to veganism and he received the prestigious James Beard Foundation Leadership Award1James Beard Foundation. Profile: Bryant Terry. Available: https://www.jamesbeard.org/content/bryant-terry. [Accessed 12 September 2023]. in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the realm of food justice.
Terry also served as the chef-in-residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco from 2015 to 2023. 2The Plant-Forward Kitchen. Profile: Bryant Terry. Available: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/bryant-terry. [Accessed 12 September 2023].
During his time at New York University, an unexpected encounter with hip-hop song ‘Beef’ by Boogie Down Productions addressing factory farming served as a catalyst for a transformative shift in his dietary choices. This powerful moment led him to adopt a plant-based diet and sparked his interest in delving into the early initiatives aimed at tackling issues of food injustice3James Beard Foundation. 2015 Leadership Award Honoree Bryant Terry Interview. Available: https://www.jamesbeard.org/content/2015-leadership-award-honoree-bryant-terry. [Accessed 12 September 2023]..
During this time, his academic focus extended to exploring historical endeavors aimed at rectifying disparities within the food system, including the impactful efforts of the Black Panther Party during the 1960s and ’70s.
Subsequently, he took the initiative to enroll in culinary school and, in 2001, founded ‘b-healthy!’ (short for Build Healthy Eating And Lifestyles To Help Youth) – a five-year long initiative to shed light on food justice concerns and the empowerment of young people to shape a fair and sustainable food system4Grist. Bryant Terry Interview. Available: https://grist.org/article/terry. [Accessed 12 September 2023]..
“Given that it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat, I think we can also go a long way toward ending hunger and saving the environment as well.”5MoJo Video. Bryant Terry’s Vegan Soul Kitchen. Available: https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/04/mojo-video-bryant-terrys-vegan-soul-kitchen. [Accessed 12 September 2023].
