Vegetarian Action

In a city best known for its crab cakes, Baltimore houses a land where you can feed your soul. This place is called The Land of Kush, and it has the simple goal of bringing the community together by providing quality vegan food that is accessible to all.

Naijha Wright Brown co-owns The Land of Kush, a vegan restaurant famous for its ribs, raw kale salad, and macaroni and cheese, with her husband Gregory, who serves as the restaurant's chef. The Land of Kush was founded on the concept of "VeganSoul," which Naijha describes as the compassion housed by every being on this planet and encompasses everything from the spirit, mind, and body to perform no harm to others. It is the first word you see on the restaurant's menu and website.

Naijha's journey to VeganSoul, and eventually to The Land of Kush, began during her childhood. A native New Yorker born on Manhattan's Lower East Side, she said that soul food, typically Southern-style African-American cooking, was an influential cuisine. In addition, she credits her involvement as a youth in The Fresh Air Fund, a program that teaches about gardening, farming, environmentalism, sustainability, and the basics of healthy eating.

The Land of Kush deems itself different from the average restaurant. Since VeganSoul resides deep within Naijha's being, it is only natural that this compassion reaches far past the restaurant and spills out onto the streets of Baltimore City. The restaurant and the community are intertwined, which is why their staff consists mostly of inner-city African-American youth, and local artists donated the shop's artwork. The day before my interview with Naijha, the Land of Kush donated 200 bags of fresh produce to the community, addressing the issues associated with the city's food deserts. Naijha and Gregory also are helping support the growth of black-owned businesses.

Along with supporting a movement and helping to build a stronger community, Naijha is a mom in an urban environment where a processed meat-based diet is readily available everywhere one goes. Naijha deals with this challenge by simply fostering a home of compassion and health in which to raise her daughter. Naijha explains that she and Gregory must set an example so their little one can go into the world without succumbing to mainstream diets and lifestyle.

As my interview with Naijha came to an end, I couldn't help but notice the diversity of people who came into the restaurant, from police officers to artists, from nurses to college students. One sight in particular made me smile. At one table sat an older black woman and a Caucasian male, laughing and sharing each other's food and enjoying the atmosphere. After my conversation with Naijha, it was clear that compassion and love are available to all who make the journey to The Land of Kush.

For more information on Naijha's activities, see http://landofkush.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/BlackVegofMD/.