Honoring 20 Black Leaders in the Field of Eating Disorders, Relationship to Body, and Relationship to Movement
February is entitled Black History Month. While Sunrise Nutrition believes that Black folks and Black history deserve and ought to be honored every month, let’s take some time to reflect on the invaluable contributions Black leaders have made to the intersection of the eating disorder, mental health, nutrition, and body liberation fields. These fields continue to be dominated by White Supremacy, making the presence and labor of these folks unnecessarily challenging.
Let’s take time to turn the volume up and listen to what these champions have to say about systemic oppression’s impacts on the body and mental health, fat phobia, body liberation, diet culture, and disrupting the status quo. Following is a list, in no particular order, of some of these generous folks.
Let their messages sink in, share with your friends, and take care of yourself!
As you learn from these folks, if it’s available to you, consider joining or contributing to their organizations or Patreons and purchasing a copy of their books as compensation for their labor in educating you. If you are not able to purchase their literature or participate in their organizations and/or Patreons, consider sharing their work on your social media or passing their names along to inquiring minds. Financial resources are not always required to amplify Black voices.
Dr. Sabrina Strings, Ph.D
She is a professor and author of the seminal book “Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia.” Listen to her interview on Food Psych podcast episode #196: Diet Culture’s Racist Roots with Sabrina Strings.
Jessica Wilson, MS, RD
She is a dietitian, organizer in the dietetic and eating disorder fields, author of the book “It’s Always Been Ours: Rewriting the Story of Black Women’s Bodies,” and host of the podcast, Making It Awkward. Follow her on social media @jessicawilson.msrd.
Marquisele Mercedes
She is a fat liberationist, writer, educator, and cohost of the podcast “Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back.” Follow them on social media @fatmarquisele.
Shana Minei Spence, MS, RDN, CDN
She is a Dietitian and witty truth-speaking Diet- and Wellness Culture critic. Follow her on social media @thenutritiontea.
They are a trans theorist, abolitionist, and author of the book “Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness.” They are also a cohost of the podcast “Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back” and Director of ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health - the organization leading Health at Every Size). Follow them on social media @dashaunlh.
Alishia McCullough, MS, LCMHC
She is an eating disorder therapist, co-founder of #amplifymelanatedvoices, and author of the upcoming book “Reclaiming the Black Body.” Follow her on social media @blackandembodied.
She is a body image activist and brand builder. Follow her on social media @uncomfortable_bliss.
Dr. Whitney Trotter, DNP, APRN, RDN
She is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and dietitian in the eating disorder field who cofounded the BIPOC Eating Disorder Conference. Follow her on social media @whitneytrotter.rd.
She is a fitness and strength coach, wellness and body-positive influencer, anti-racist and DEI speaker, and author of the book “The Body Liberation Project: How Understanding Racism and Diet Culture Helps Cultivate Joy and Build Collective Freedom.” Follow her on social media @iamchrissyking.
Also known as “The Rage Doctor,” she is a clinical psychologist, scholar-activist, founder of the Decolonizing Therapy movement, and author of the book “Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice.” Follow her on social media @decolonizingtherapy.
Roxane Gay, Ph.D
She is a prolific author of essays, short stories, and books such as “Bad Feminist,” “Difficult Women,” and “Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body.” She is a social commentator, professor, and host of the former podcast The Roxane Gay Agenda. Follow her on social media @roxanegay74.
She is a spoken word artist, social justice activist, and author of the book “The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love.” Follow her on social media @sonyareneetaylor.
Dalia Kinsey, RD, LD
Dalia is a dietitian, health equity advocate, host of the podcast Body Liberation for All, and author of the book “Decolonizing Wellness: The QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation.” Follow Dalia on social media @DaliaKinsey
Angela Goens, MS, RDN, LD
She is a dietitian in the eating disorder field and cofounder of the BIPOC Eating Disorder Conference. Follow her on social media @rootednutritionservices.
He is a physical therapy assistant, medical exercise specialist, author, educator, and founder of the organization Decolonizing Fitness. Follow him on social media @decolonizingfitness.
Safiya Mchale, LMSW
She is a social worker and therapist in the eating disorder field. Follow them on social media @intersectionalrecovery.
She is an organizer, advocate, creator of the group Sacred Space for Fat Bodies, Board Director of Project HEAL, and Advocacy and Community Leader at ASDAH. Follow her on social media @sacredspaceforfatbodies.
She is a yoga teacher, writer, and body advocate. She cofounded the digital yoga community The Underbelly and authored the books “Yoke: My Yoga of Self Acceptance” and “Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get on the Mat, Love your Body.” Follow her on social media @mynameisjessamyn.
She is a fat liberation activist, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, and cofounder of #sizefreedom. Follow her on social media @iofthetigress.
She is a content creator, writer, speaker, body image and confidence advocate, and author of the book “Fattily Ever After: The Fat, Black Girls’ Guide to Living Life Unapologetically.” Follow her on social media @stephanieyeboah.
Assembled by Sarah Douglas, CN, LMHCA. Sarah is a therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders in Seattle, WA. She offers both in-person and telehealth services.