Meet Aph Ko, the Black Decolonial Theorist Changing the Vegan World

Aph Ko is a Black decolonial theorist and independent digital media producer. Last year she and her sister, Syl Ko, published the book Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters, which explores new theoretical frameworks for race, feminism, and advocacy for nonhuman animals.


Aph has a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies and a master’s in communication and media studies. She is the co-editor of The Praxis of Justice in an Era of Black Lives Matter and served as the associate producer for the documentary Always in Season, which follows four communities in the U.S. grappling with the legacy of racial terrorism and lynching.

In 2015 Aph wrote the first article to list 100 Black vegans. Introducing the list, she writes that it serves “as a statement for anyone who says ‘veganism is white.’

The list generated an outpouring of support, which inspired her to found Black Vegans Rock, a platform to spotlight and promote Black vegans everywhere. The project received grants from A Well-Fed World and The Pollination Project.

More recently, Aph was a consultant for The Invisible Vegan, an independent documentary that explores the problem of unhealthy dietary patterns in the Black community and highlights the health and wellness possibilities of a vegan lifestyle. Last year she was nominated for a P.E.A. (People. Environment. Achievement.) award.

Aph’s writing has been featured on Black Youth Project and in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, VegNews, and Vegan Life.

Be sure to follow Black Vegans Rock on Instagram or Facebook!

And follow MFA’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook this Black History Month as we continue to celebrate Black vegans!