What It Really Means When We Talk About 'Food Justice'

ILLUSTRATION: YENWEI LIU/HUFFPOST; PHOTO: COURTESY OF CARRIE KHOLI-MURCHISON This Voices in Food story, as told to K. Astre, is from Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison. As someone who grew up eating from her grandfather’s garden and witnessed her mom and grandmother feed entire neighborhoods throughout her life, she understands that the conversation around food justice is just as much about building an equitable future for historically marginalized communities as it is about tapping into self and communal actualization. On the history of food justice efforts within the Black community When we talk about the term “food justice,” I think there are lots of ways that people exclusively associate it with poverty and humans that have been forced to live in poverty, even though we have found ways to thrive. Asking questions like, “Are there foods that can make me feel better?” and then really digging into why some people don’t have access to that food. On understanding your role in the fight for food justice There’s a big difference between charity or philanthropy and real justice that comes from eliminating the barriers to create an equitable future.