Tracye McQuirter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tracye McQuirter
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| Born | Washington, DC |
| Occupation | Public Health Nutritionist Vegan Activist Author speaker |
| Education | New York University (MPH, Public Health Nutrition) Amherst College (BA, African American Studies) Sidwell Friends School |
| Genre | Vegan Education, Activism, Lifestyle |
| Notable works | Ageless Vegan (2018) By Any Greens Necessary (2010) “African Vegan Starter Guide” (2015) |
Tracye McQuirter is an African-American expert in public health nutrition. She is also a writer and activist who supports a vegan lifestyle. You might have seen her in the 2024 documentary, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tracye McQuirter grew up in Washington D.C.. She finished high school at Sidwell Friends School in 1984. Later, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1988. She then received her Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition from New York University in 2003.
Her Path to Veganism
Discovering Plant-Based Eating
In 1986, when Tracye was in college, actor and activist Dick Gregory visited her school. He gave a talk about vegetarianism that really interested her. The next year, she spent a semester studying in Kenya. Her experiences there helped her decide to become a vegetarian.
Finding a Community
During her last year of college, Tracye was an exchange student at Howard University. There, she found a large group of Black vegans and vegetarians in Washington D.C. This community was also inspired by Dick Gregory and his book. They taught Tracye how to live as a vegan. She noted that back then, it was harder to find vegan food in stores. People had to cook most of their meals themselves.
Career and Impact
Early Online Efforts
From 1996 to 1997, Tracye McQuirter helped start "BlackVegetarians.com". This was the first website about veganism created by and for African Americans.
Writing and Activism
Tracye's 2010 book, By Any Greens Necessary, helped more African Americans become interested in veganism. The New York Times newspaper even wrote about its impact. In 2016, she also worked with the Farm Sanctuary to write the African American Vegan Starter Guide.
Awards and Recognition
Tracye McQuirter has received many honors for her work. In 2017, Vegetarian Times magazine called her a "New Food Hero." Self Magazine listed her 2018 cookbook, Ageless Vegan, as one of the best healthy cookbooks. In 2019, she was added to the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame. PBS also recognized her as a "Woman Thought Leader." In 2024, VegNews magazine named her one of the "17 Black Vegan Chefs Redefining Plant-Based Food and Community."
