There are so many people to thank and acknowledge who supported me through this project and through life in general!
Thanks Dad for first introducing me to the world of herbalism and holistic health while I was growing up. Thanks Mom and Talmadge for always encouraging me to write and to approach whatever I am passionate about with confidence.
Much love, gratitude, and appreciation to Oliver, for being a wonderful soul mate and introducing me to compassionate consumption and mindful living.
Dick Gregory and Queen Afua: Although I have never met you in real life, your philosophies took my activism—in terms of empowering Black people—to a holistic level. I hope to one day meet you lovely spirits.
Thich Nhat Hanh: Your translation of the fourteen precepts in your book Inter-Being is a blessing. I meditate on it every week to remember that my health and food activism should continue to be grounded in compassion, love, and nonviolence.
Bryant, your brilliance as a food-justice chef and author continue to inspire me. Thank you for being a positive force for people of color and food-justice activism.
Emily, our food, health, and feminist brainstorming “chit chats” have helped encourage me to develop this anthology in creative and thought-provoking ways. Thanks!
Raquel, my twin sis! So glad you came into my life and I appreciate your wisdom at such a young age.
Jason, your dedication to your activism with your Oakland Food Connection constantly inspires me and keeps me on the path of doing the work that I do. Thank you for being part of my life!
Tulaine, thank you for teaching me about leadership as well as compassion, when addressing the emotional subject of health and food with my peers.
Noah, I am glad my initial email to you did not scare you away! I am forever grateful for your support and courage to fight against the status quo and inequality for nonhuman animals and us human animals. Thanks for being an ally, despite the challenges you faced in your animal-rights work.
Kevin, thank you for “getting it” and constantly sending me news about local and global injustices about food, environment, and health, around the world.
Frances Ufkes, thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of Food and Geography, freshman year at Dartmouth College. Since then, I have never looked at food quite the same way.
Zoe E. Masongsong, thank you so much for volunteering to help Sistah Vegans edit their anthology pieces. This was a truly a selfless act and I know some sistahs may not have had the confidence to submit their creative-genius pieces had you not been there to let them know they could do it.
Derrick, you always said I could do it. Thank you for your support and believing in my potential to publish this project.
Pandora, my beautiful sistah: our intense dialogues about healing, love, food, institutionalized racism, and life in general have helped me to never forget that “we are what we've been waiting for.” Thank you for such a tremendous gift.
Sister Jayne, I love you big sister! Thank you for your love and support. Your enthusiasm for my health and food activism has helped me stay on my spiritual path to help humanity understand that we have the power of the divine within ourselves to be our own healers.
To the staff at Lantern Books, thank you for believing in the importance of this book, and for giving it such care and attention through the process.
Lastly, thank you Holly and Uriel, my best buds since freshman year in college. Your trust in me to help heal your ailments through the years made me realize that I can be a leader and teacher of holistic healing through literary activism, and share my wisdom with all who are willing to embrace it.
A. Breeze Harper