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Featured Group: The Black Vegetarian Society of Texas The mission of the Black Vegetarian Society of Texas (BVSTX) is to educate the public, particularly the African American community, on the benefits of a plant-based diet, to promote wellness and to influence the community to pursue a vegetarian lifestyle. We asked director JJ Johnson a few questions about the goals of BVSTX: BV: Why did you start BVSTX? JJ: We saw that there was a need for vegetarians, particularly black vegetarians, to come together in an organized fashion to learn more about this lifestyle. I had been involved with some of the white organizations, which were excellent, but I did not see people of color, and this was of concern to me. There was good, relevant information out there, but we, as people of color, were not getting that information. BV: How do you spread your message? JJ: I am a graphic designer and at the time that I started the group I was working for the Dallas Morning News, so print media was not really a problem. Also, with graphics and art as a background and some marketing, I was able to launch a modest campaign on a shoestring budget. We hit the radio stations and word of mouth was essential. Approximately 45 people attended our first meeting. That was a sign that even here in cow country, vegetarians, and especially black vegetarians, wanted and needed this type of organization. BV: What kind of reception have you gotten from the community? JJ: At first it was a little mixed. I had a few whites and blacks to ask why we named the group, at that time, the Dallas Black Vegetarian Society. It seemed to be an issue for some folks. Ironic as it may seem, a friend of mine, James Bisby, who is white, was the director of the Dallas Vegetarian Lunch Group, and I was getting a lot from his group at the time. I mentioned that I was about to start a black veg group. We pondered names, and it was he who actually suggested the Dallas Black Vegetarian Society. This sounded like a great idea to me, and I went with it. After searching the web for other black groups, I came across the Black Vegetarian Society of Georgia, of which Traci Thomas is the director. That is when we changed our name to BVSTX. The rest is history. Also, now that we have our 101 and 201 classes in place, and we have the Health Fairs and celebrate events such as the Great American Meatout and World Vegetarian Day, the response has been great.
BV: Have you seen an increasing interest in vegetarianism among black folks in Dallas? JJ: Yes I have, especially since we started the organization. Before, you would go to a vegetarian restaurant and see other blacks, and you spoke and asked where else do you eat. Since the organization started, we come together to socialize, but more importantly we come together to learn and share. Even people who are thinking about the transition or just curious about this lifestyle come with a real sense of getting this information that wasn't presented this way before. With major celebrities like Erykah Badu, Prince, Vanessa Williams and other black vegetarians coming forward, people are taking another look and really thinking about their health. It helps that the trend is health and wellness today. BV: What plans does BVSTX have for the near future? JJ: We recently received 501c3 status, and with that in hand we want to bring some major projects to the community. Currently, we offer the Vegetarian 101 and 201 classes at the Martin Luther King Center. We will also be offering cooking, nutrition classes and exercise classes in the fitness center at the Center. There is already a group of seniors meeting there, and we have been asked to start a project with them We are continuing to expand our Health Fair with events like the Meatout and World Vegetarian Day. We want to expand our 5k walks to 10k walks or runs and partner with other organizations like cancer societies. Also, we will be upgrading our web site this year.
Contact BVSTX at: P.O. Box 833604 Richardson,
TX 75083-3604
www.bvstx.com
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