Using food as Radical Empathy

     In this TED talk I found how she connected racism to food. The idea that food could have an impact on this strangely made sense in that it could bring people together. For example, the lady that had a tea party bringing rival gangs together. It made me think that if food could be used to bring opposing sides together then maybe after the meal, they could leave understanding each other just a little more even if they only enjoyed the food. like with the news people who would write negative articles about Muslims but for lunch would eat their food. I feel that if they actually had a meal sitting beside each other knowing they enjoy the food then they may be more inclined to a more positive conversation so as not to spoil the food. I feel as though this professor Alkon did indeed have a point that food could be used to bring people together though it would take a long time to fully come together. I could definitely be used as a steppingstone to start and continue the process. 

Food as Radical Empathy

As a regenerative agriculture major, I understand the importance of adopting organic and restorative agricultural practices in our country. In order for this to be done, consumers must make conscious choices that support organic and regenerative farmers, shop locally, and adjust diets to include more perennial crops. However, I am also keenly aware of the inequality of access to healthy, organic food in this country, where socioeconomic factors often determine one's ability to make "sustainable" food choices. In many communities, particularly low-income minority neighborhoods, access to fresh produce and organic options is extremely limited. The higher price tags on organic and healthy food create barriers for many families and individuals, making it a luxury rather than a daily occurrence. These communities are then faced with diet-related health issues, such as malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Embracing food as radical empathy means recognizing these disparities in access and striving for change. Regenerative agriculture cannot be a gatekept luxury of the wealthy. It needs to be widely accessible, affordable, and equitable. 

Another point that Alkon touched on that resonated with me was about food as a cultural identity. Last semester in my fundamentals of regenerative agriculture course we read Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shephard. Much of Shephard's argument was based around converting most of crops (and therefore the food we eat) to perennial systems, which he argued are significantly more nutritionally dense. As a white American who is somewhat removed from my ancestral cultural practices, it is easy for me (and Shephard) to see food as calories, vitamins, fats and proteins. But for many around the world, food is more than just physical nourishment. As Alkon said, food is deeply tied to cultural identity, reflecting the history, geography, and social practices of a community. They are repositories of familial memories, connecting people to their cultural roots. These culturally significant dishes provide a sense of belonging and shared ancestry within communities. In some cases, cultural diets are intertwined with religious practices, such as halal and kosher diets. As much as we can argue that perennial agricultural systems are superior for our health and the health of the planet, it would mean sacrificing so many important culinary traditions, ones that many people would be hard-pressed to give up (and rightfully so). 

Food as Radical Empathy

    Alison Alkon spoke about the concept of radical empathy in her Ted talk and how food ties into that concept. She made the point that food is something that we all have in common and I really like that idea. Food is a huge part of our lives, we literally cannot live without it. It doesn't matter where you come from, everyone has to eat and its something that we as people can bond over. Breaking bread together can bring people from all different backgrounds together no matter where you are. 

     I think its really sad that over processed foods are cheaper than fresh, more healthy options. It seems like a way to keep lower income people unhealthy. When all you can afford is fast or over processed food that definitely is gonna take a toll on your brain and body. I think people need to be more aware of the food that we are putting in our bodies everyday. Food really is fuel for our bodies and if you're only ever consuming low quality food you're not going to feel your best. Not to mention all the chemicals and preservatives in most processed foods. I think better food should be more affordable and accessible to all people. We as people just need to be smarter about the corporations and places we spend our money at when it comes to food.

    I never really considered food as a form of radical empathy before but now I think I understand. Food is a basic necessity for people to live and putting ourselves in the shoes of people who are lacking in access or ability to buy food can help us to create solutions. I really like the last quote she put up that said "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, celebrate those differences."(-Audre Lorde) I think a lot of time we as people get distracted by our differences instead of seeing them as a potluck lunch in terms of food. How boring life would be if we all brought the same dish to the potluck. We should be celebrating all the different things we can enjoy because we all are different and have different gifts to share.  

Food Has Potential

    My initial reaction of the Ted Talk was shock. I have never considered food to be that much of our society. But just as she said in the intro (was my favorite part of the video), everything we do is based around food. It is sad to know food workers are among some of the lowest wages, it is obvious that industrial agriculture does not care about nutrition or favor the people striving for it.

     I chose this title because the line "Food has potential" was swirling around my head throughout the rest of the video after I heard her say it once. 

    Awareness about industrial agriculture and its increasing number of negative effects on our society should be raised, and everybody in the "food world" should have radical empathy and should accept Alkon's encouragement to watch food blogs. However, it felt like most of the important issues such as: creating alternatives to industrial agriculture, raising wages, and curbing industrial agriculture's worst practices are all tasks too dawning for individuals to fight for without government assistance. 

    She encouraged us to do a couple things to achieve radical empathy, but I fear that the effort is in vain.     Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching cooking ASMR videos of Asian cuisine and wouldn't mind stepping out to watch a food blog every now and then or enjoy another culture's dish and hear their story, but I don't see how achieving radical empathy will change any of the terrible practices of industrial farming or increase wages without federal incentive. Global warming is happening really fast, and I do not think the industrial agricultural system can be rebuilt before it is too late. 

 Despite my criticalness, I thought it was slightly reassuring to hear how food has given power to activists in the past. Like Georgia Gilmore, who used food to fund a critical movement towards ending racism. 

   

Food as Radical Empathy

As I watched the Ted talk, I liked how Professor Alkon talked both about the current issues facing the people in agriculture, but the history of agriculture in the US and how it has impacted people. The history of US agriculture has created issues that many people still deal with today. Alkon spoke about the multiple minority groups (African Americans, Hispanics, Women, etc...), and how they have been historically mistreated. Learning their stories and the negatives of our agricultural system can help us to make changes in the system and understand how to help these different groups of people. The individual experiences that people provide connect them to other people and can help to create communities. These communities can bring even more people together and be a catalyst for change.  

I agree with Alkon that accepting and highlighting the different cultures in our agriculture and our daily meals is also a great way to build community. Alkon also gave multiple examples about how food is used to connect different people and build relationships. I personally love to try foods from different places, and I think we should encourage more of supporting small businesses and trying new things. Although large chain restaurants are good, supporting farmers markets and family-owned businesses lets people make real connections with others in their communities. In a world where we are separated by screens it is much and have digital communities that bring people from all over together. Overall, I like the idea of how food is this constant factor between everyone, and how everyday people can use it to make changes in their lives and the lives of those around them.  

Food as Radical Empathy

     In my first semester as a Regenerative Agriculture major at KU, I learned a lot about the basics of this new farming method along with some of its implications.  These introductory courses mainly focused on teaching us about new ways to grow food within a more ecosystem-oriented framework, but what happens once the food is grown?   Now, I have a new set of courses aimed toward magnifying some of these fundamental ideas, and I think Alkon's TED Talk is a great introduction to some of these more specific concepts.  

      In my Fundamentals of Regenerative Agriculture class last semester, we read a book titled Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shepard, and one of the main concerns he raised was the fact that farming communities that were once vital to the success of rural economies are being diminished by large corporations focused solely on profit rather than quality food.  After listening to the TED Talk, I can see that Shepard and Alkon are analyzing different aspects of the same issue.  For example, Shepard goes in depth about limiting the control that large corporations have on farming operations to promote a better livelihood for farmers and to promote new farming methods to help alleviate environmental issues.  One of Alkon's focuses is on how these corporations price and distribute the unhealthy, processed foods that line the shelves in the grocery stores.

    This is where I believe that the idea of food empathy plays a very significant role.  In order for issues such as the one in the paragraph above to be solved or at least reduced, people from a wide range of cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses need to know what it's like to be in each other's situation.  This can lead to a diverse community of people with different experiences who can effectively communicate their ideas.  By practicing food empathy, we are taking the steps necessary to not only provide everyone with adequate food, but with food that is unprocessed and nutritious. 

    

 

Response to "Food as Radical Empathy" - Alison Alkon TedTalk

Alison Alkon mentions the underrated Civil Rights activist, Georgia Gilmore, and how she had a huge part to play in the connection between black women and their food, to the community around them. This was interesting to me because not only does Alkon have a great point regarding how strongly food connects people with their community, but also by teaching the audience something that they might not have otherwise known. In all my years of education and passively consuming food, I have never heard of Georgia Gilmore and her contribution to the Civil Rights movement. 

I admire how Alkon stresses the importance of recognizing that people of African American descent were dually responsible for the success in growing and selling crops, and that the achievement of that avenue should not fully be handed to white people. 

One concept that Alkon discusses that I found intriguing would be the fact that while food brings people together, it also separates us. The point that struck me the most was when Alkon mentioned how students from different cultures are destined to bring foods from their upbringing to schools, which often leads to bullying and separation of the student body from a young age. This type of separation and outcasting can hurt students outlook on their personal heritage and create harmful stereotypes that may inhibit children of culture to reach their full confidence and potential in themselves. 

Overall, it is important to recognize the influence that a variety of cultures have had on the aspect of food, and how it has brought people together for decades prior, and years to come. Not only this, but it is crucial to recognize the injustice of said food, and how it can also separate us from one another, as well as what we can do to stray away from these harmful stereotypes and work to make a more accepting community. After all, we all have one thing in common; Food. 

Food as Radical Empathy

    As Alkon argues, food can be a connection between people. Christian communion, family dinners, or Friendsgiving. These examples are usually people who already have a lot in common and are used to sharing these meals. Empathy, though, is the ability to "put oneself in another's shoes" and may look like eating unfamiliar foods. I think trying different cultures’ cuisine is a great way to be open to learning about and respecting other people. 

I personally have seen an example of the socioeconomic gap related to healthy food. I’ve worked for a small, local, and organic CSA and know that our customers’ main demographic is wealthier, often older community members. Although each food item, like a lb. of potatoes or bunch of carrots, equals only $3-4, the overall price for a CSA share is more than many people can afford. I hear people complain about the prices, but I’m also out in the fields sweating, being poked by thistle, working hard and getting paid less than I could be making at Walmart- so I think the prices a justified.  

Just because fresh produce is available and affordable doesn’t mean it's entirely accessible. I can take whatever produce, mushrooms, and meat I want from the CSA for free but most of the time I don’t! That’s my own fault but heating up some chicken nuggets or getting french fries for Chick-fil-a seems so much easier! I still don’t know why I decide to spend money and eat food that makes me feel gross instead of cooking fresh, free healthy food for myself. I don’t have an answer yet, but my perspective helps me understand partly why few other people take the initiative to get a CSA share, grow a garden, and have a nutritious diet. 

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