Food and Fun Friday - 'The Invisible Vegan'

Women on Writing offered me a chance to review the documentary, 'The Invisible Vegan' and I leapt at the chance. And boy, am I glad I did!

I had several reasons I was interested in viewing, and then reviewing this documentary. 

• I am interested in eating better - for my health
• I work in a grocery store and watch people buy food all day long
• I garden and enjoy eating what I grow and sharing that food - both raw and cooked - with others 
• I have a manager who is vegan and have stuck my toe in the water in at least cooking a few 'vegan' recipes
• I have actually tried some plant-based meats in the past few months and am pleasantly surprised at the quality and the taste

But basically, I am interested at least from a health aspect to eat more healthy. I want to live to be 150 (and drive my kids crazy!)

Now for the business part of the review - 

Film Summary

The documentary begins with the personal story of Jasmine Leyva, a 30-year-old black actress and filmmaker currently based in Los Angeles. Over the past seven years, Leyva has committed herself to veganism, both in lifestyle and research. Taking Leyva’s unhealthy childhood growing up in Washington, DC as a point of departure, the film interweaves her narrative with the professional and personal experiences of a prominent group of vegan activists. The film integrates interviews with popular culture luminaries including Cedric the Entertainer (actor and comedian), John Salley (former NBA player and wellness advocate), and Clayton Gavin (aka Stic of the hip-hop duo Dead Prez).

Length: 90 Minutes

Genre: Documentary

The Invisible Vegan is available to watch now on TubiTV and stream on Amazon Prime

About the Author, Jasmine Leyva

Activist, actress, and documentary filmmaker, Jasmine is passionate about veganism, social justice, and telling her own stories. With a Bachelor of Arts in TV, Film and Media and a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting, Jasmine is unapologetically an artist. She has worked as anassociate producer on a NAACP winning docuseries entitled Unsung and has written and produced for Being, a docuseries highlighting dynamic entertainers in film and music.

Jasmine ultimately decided to let go of her nine-to-five and focus on her goals with no boss except for her own creativity. She went on to produce her own feature length documentary, The Invisible Vegan, a film that chronicles her personal experience with plant-based eating.  The film

also explains how plant-based eating is directly linked to African roots and how African-American eating habits have been debased by a chain of oppression. 

Jasmine’s recently appeared on the Vegan Women Summit, The Sarah Scoop Show, and the Soul On Fire podcast.

Jasmine’s recently appeared on the Vegan Women Summit, The Sarah Scoop Show, and the Soul On Fire podcast.

Website: https://jasmineleyva.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmine_c_leyva

Now for my viewpoint...

First off, let me say, I am a white woman. A white woman who was born and raised in the South. A Southern white woman who is in her 60's and has accepted many of the stereotypes out there about the African-American culture. I would say in my defense a lot of my ideas are born of ignorance. But ignorance is something you can overcome by being open and willing to learn. Therefore, this film hit two areas in which I am lacking in knowledge - veganism and the black experience.

And I think ignorance comes into play on several levels with this topic. One, there is little 'exposure' to genuinely eating healthy. And how eating or not eating certain foods can cure or kill you. I know I have reached the point where I can't even eat half a Big Mac and if I do, well, my body says 'are you stupid or what!'

While the film did give me a different perspective on what 'soul food' is really about and how culturally and historically African-Americans came from a different way of eating than fried chicken and watermelon, it also pointed out most of us share a similar reaction when someone says 'vegan'. 

As I got into the film, there was less of 'them' and 'me' and more about 'how do I want my body to feel'. And as I am moving into my own home as this is posted, I will have the freedom to eat better, thinking of no one else and what they will and will not eat. I will also have room to exercise more. Not to mention I have a whole yard to transform into a garden. Fresh, organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs right at my doorstep!

The film also points out it is not always a matter of 'cost' to be vegan (or a vegetarian), but rather a matter of choice. 

Despite the fact my current manager is vegan (and a white female), the other vegans I have known have all been black women. Women who embraced that lifestyle mainly out of concern for health reasons. The fact they looked younger and stronger than their actual years is beside the point!

Overall, the documentary is well done and the hour and a half flew by. If you are a big squeamish, there is a section toward the end about how our meat is grown and treated which might make you put down that burger for a bit. 

Will I become a vegan? Probably not entirely. 

But I would like to try to aim for a more vegetarian lifestyle and this summer might be a turning point for me in that direction.