New Books in Anthropology Hanna Garth, "Food Justice Undone: Lessons for Building a Better Movement" (U California Press, 2026)
Jan 23, 2026
Hanna Garth, a cultural anthropologist and author of 'Food Justice Undone,' dives into the complexities of food justice movements in South Central Los Angeles. She reveals how good intentions often foster stereotypes and deepen inequalities. Garth highlights the disconnect between affluent volunteers and local residents, questioning the effectiveness of traditional nonprofit structures. With twelve years of research, she advocates for multiracial coalitions and community-led solutions, emphasizing the need for structural change over simplistic approaches to health and justice.
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Research Began Through Volunteering
- Garth began studying food justice after a denied Cuba visa and volunteering in community gardens.
- She collected interviews, rode in carpools, and recorded many conversations while moving between neighborhoods.
Food Access Myths In South Central
- Food-access assumptions about South Central were widely wrong and simplified complex realities.
- Hanna Garth found abundant markets, vendors, and cooking knowledge across the community.
From 'Food Desert' To Behavior Fixation
- Organizers imported narratives like 'food desert' and equated store absence with poor diets.
- That leap framed interventions around changing individual behavior rather than addressing structural causes.
