Written by: Neha Seenarine
Trinity Andrew (@trinityskitchen) is a self-taught baker against social injustice.
Trinity Andrew was infatuated with baking and decided to teach herself by watching YouTube videos and, for her 26th birthday, she was gifted with cake decorating tools. However, throughout quarantine, her hobby that developed initially to pass the time evolved into an outlet to share her voice on political issues.
“During the first months of quarantine, I really just focused on average cake baking and decorating,” said Andrew. “But then, with the Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd protests, I felt that I wasn’t doing anything to help the elimination of white supremacy. In fact, my silence was violent and adding to the problem. I was infuriated as we all should be, and the first political bake was ‘Defund the Police.’ It then went from there to educating myself on political issues and being a part of a community ‘Bakers Against Racism.’ I still have a lot to learn.”
The Bakers Against Racism mission is to stand against racism in all shapes and forms. “We want to see an end to racism and the unjust treatment of Black people and People of Color in America and we believe that we can effect positive change through food for both our nation and across the world.”
Andrew has found baking to be an outlet to speak her truth while educating herself and others.
Andrew noted, “My work is almost a journal for myself with the issues and emotions I am currently learning and feeling. If my work can’t change anything then the least it can do is raise awareness. We’re all unlearning the false narrative that white supremacy was taught to us. I want my work to express the desire for change and the need to fight for justice. “
She participates in food justice with My Nanay’s Kitchen (@mynanayskitchen), which is “a place to cook, to serve and to eat.” Andrew bakes goods to stock up community fridges.
The status of her Instagram account is not the goal for Andrew, she is more concerned about her work being censored. “It’s funny because I hate celebrity culture and find status or numbers incredibly toxic,” said Andrew. “I wish we didn’t count followers or likes or growth and just stayed comfortable with being ourselves without any desire to get more notice or reach an idea of fame. I am often guilty of wanting my numbers to reach higher, but authenticity is everything to me. I just want to see my account not be deleted at this point (I get reported a lot). It’s a price I’m willing to pay if it means being true to myself.”
For the past month her kitchen has been in an RV because she prioritizes working while traveling.
“Our goal is to hit up every national park we can starting with the East Coast,” said Andrew. “I currently work full time working remotely editing photos and doing copy for a company. When I’m not working then I get to bake and stock up fridges and do food justice on behalf of My Nanay’s Kitchen.”
Andrew has run into issues being on the road however, she is determined to keep baking for the greater good.
“It’s not as easy being on the road as it is when we were living in LA in terms of baking,” said Andrew “mainly because I used to do bakes that 100% of profits can go towards Black Lives Matter, Land Back, Trans Rights or Stop Asian Hate movements. Being on the road, we don’t really have a single location for pickups and not knowing anyone can be a problem too, but we will find a way to make it work.”