Changemakers: Mustafa Shakir on Aligning Mind, Body, and Soul

As an accomplished actor, writer, and musician, Mustafa Shakir keeps wellness at the forefront—eating a plant-based diet that supports his health and energy throughout his demanding schedule. The multi-talented artist joined us to talk about his upbringing, his hopes for the future of our food system, and his passion for living in alignment with mind, body, and soul.

You’ve portrayed some pretty physically demanding roles throughout your career, from playing the criminal mastermind John ‘Bushmaster’ McIver in Marvel’s Luke Cage to bringing the anime character Jet Black to life in Cowboy Bebop. Has adhering to a plant-based diet helped you to prepare for your riveting action roles at all?

Being vegan has definitely played an integral part in me being able to take on physically demanding roles. As a vegan, the body’s ability to recover quickly increases; something that science has even proven. I believe it was in the documentary The Game Changers that I saw some actual testing on athletes that was proof positive. The ability to recover is no small thing when you’re up at 4am filming a fight sequence … three to five days in a row. There’s also less inflammation in the body from animal products, and that's also helpful in staying loose and pain free.

When did you adopt a vegan diet, and what was the catalyst for making the switch?

I feel like I was always teetering on being plant-based, my whole life. I couldn’t really eat chicken until we entered into the boneless chicken era. I would see the tendons and sinew when it was served and it always grossed me out a bit. I would ask that they nearly burn all my meat. (“Well done,” taken to the extreme.)

I officially went vegan 13 years ago, after adhering to special diets relative to my work with plant medicines. After one very powerful ceremony, I decided I’d had it with alcohol, meat, and a few other practices, and I haven’t looked back since. Doing so really sensitized my awareness around the issues of animal cruelty, and that made my decision even more resolute. Although the smell of barbecue will forever have a fond nostalgia associated with it, I couldn’t bring myself to consume another being again.

A plant-based lifestyle can have a profound effect on all aspects of a person’s health, including one's mental and spiritual well-being. Have you noticed any subtle or major changes in your life since going vegan?

As I’ve already touched on a bit, the benefits of a plant-based life are numerous. I feel lighter in my mental and physical body, which both support my spiritual awareness. I’m very aware of what my body needs and I feel that my body’s own subtle communication is heightened. If I’m feeling sluggish or out of sorts, I immediately know something is out of balance in my diet. Sometimes that just means more water and less starch/carbs, and other times it calls for a more aggressive detox.

These adjustments aren’t something I can ignore like I used to. When you’ve felt the difference—mentally, spiritually, and physically—of being in alignment with yourself, there’s no other option but to honor it. I am also slower to anger and more peaceful overall. That lag time in reaction makes dealing with life a lot more mindful. Not a small win!

For some, childhood experiences can greatly shape one’s outlook on food. I believe you were born in North Carolina, a state known for its high concentrations of factory farms, and grew up in Harlem, parts of which are still grappling with food inequities today. Were there any experiences throughout your upbringing that shaped your views on food at all?

My mother grew up farming and had those sensibilities in place her whole life. She was a huge advocate of farmers’ markets, way back before they became a thing. Mom loved to make huge amounts of soups and juices and freeze them for the winter months. It wasn’t always possible, for financial reasons, but I have a great many memories “shucking” corn in our Harlem living room and making soup that we’d enjoy in winter months. She never let us drink the artificial juices and was super hard-nosed about candy. We couldn’t eat white bread, we had to use raw sugar. There were so many things that she instilled in me regarding what food was supposed to do and taste like. I soaked up all that information, and it’s proven very useful in my life. I won’t lie—it was really difficult being conscious about food choices living in the ghetto, but it helped me to want better for myself and gave me a map for what that might look like. I’m grateful to my mother. RIP Madukes!

What are your hopes for the future of America’s food system?

My hopes for America’s food system center around empowering the people to have more of a hand in the cultivation of food. It’s not hard, and the benefits are immeasurable. More community gardens, windowsill gardens, and rooftop gardens to start!

We also need to steer away from the high proliferation of processed food. It’s slowly killing Americans. There shouldn’t be a “health food” section at the grocery store. If you are not eating to live, you most certainly are feeding your demise. This is evidenced by the healthcare industry and rampant obesity in our country. There’s no magic bullet, so to speak, but taking a more conscientious approach to food is the way. This is a very sensitive subject, as it seems that there’s a deliberate movement in place to keep people addicted to unhealthy lifestyles, perpetuating illnesses which can be capitalized on… but I digress.

Do you have any upcoming acting projects that you’d like to share?

I just finished a film called With Love starring Ke Huy Quan, Ariana Debose, Lio Tipton, Marshawn Lynch, myself and others that I’m pretty excited to see come to fruition. It’s set to premiere on Valentines Day, 2025. Mark your calendars!

You can keep up with Mustafa on his Instagram! And for inspiration and tips on switching to a plant-based diet, check out our Path to Plant-Based Starter Guide.