Upcoming vegan film ‘They’re Trying to Kill Us’ explores the relationship between food poverty, illness and racism

From the co-director of popular vegan documentaries What The Health and Cowspiracy comes a new film that will look intensely at the way in which diet, poverty, and systemic racism intersect within society. The groundbreaking film will look at social and food injustice through the influential lens of hip hop and urban culture.

They’re Trying to Kill Us is directed by Keegan Kuhn as he follows vegan activist John Lewis aka ‘Bad Ass Vegan’, on a journey to connect the dots between racial inequality in America and chronic illness and nutrition.

The film delves deeper into the conversation started by What The Health, in uncovering the lamentable systems set in place by health care organisations; those which profit from the chronically ill. The forthcoming documentary highlights the disproportionate number of black Americans effected by the racially biased systems keeping people of colour sick in America.

The filmmakers have conducted extensive research, interviewing politicians, doctors, attorneys, and activists in the field, as well as hip-hop legends. The documentary investigates connections between racism, food deserts, and the pharmaceutical industry in America.

The film has been in the making for over four years, with the trailer just recently released. This comes at a critical time for the BAME community, following weeks of protests for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Kuhn and Lewis have set up a campaign on IndieGoGo, to help raise funds to complete the production of the film. Their hope is that with public support, they can add to the current discussion about racial inequality and fuel further criticism of the systems promoting diet-related disparities.

At a time when we are forced to reevaluate society and fight for freedom and liberty, They’re Trying To Kill Us serves as an invaluable wake-up call.

| Article by by Martha Moody (United Kingdom).