New Books Network Hanna Garth, "Food Justice Undone: Lessons for Building a Better Movement" (U California Press, 2026)
Jan 23, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Hanna Garth, a cultural anthropologist and author of 'Food Justice Undone,' shares insights from her extensive research in South Central Los Angeles. She critiques the often misguided efforts of food justice activists, revealing how their good intentions can reinforce racial stereotypes and access inequalities. Garth discusses the disconnect between outsiders and local communities and highlights the need for structural change over individual behavior. She advocates for multiracial coalitions and grassroots approaches, challenging listeners to rethink food justice.
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Everyday Food Tells Structural Stories
- Hanna Garth connects everyday food practices to larger political and structural forces shaping food systems.
- Her anthropological lens links micro behaviors to macro policies and histories of inequality.
Research Pivoted By A Denied Visa
- Garth's Cuba visa denial redirected her research into LA's food justice movement, where she was already volunteering in gardens.
- She used participant observation and ride-along interviews to study organizations from 2008–2020.
Who Shows Up To Do Food Justice
- Garth noticed most food-justice staff were white, middle-class outsiders working in South Central.
- She questioned why these outsiders felt compelled to 'bring justice' to communities they seldom represented.
