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.