On February 18, Mandisa Thomas discussed how to increase secular efforts in the black community. This talk is sponsored by the Secular Alliance at IU (SAIU) and the African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University (AAADS).

Mandisa Thomas is a native of New York City, and the founder and current President of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. Although never formally indoctrinated into belief, Mandisa was heavily exposed to Christianity, Black Nationalism, and a bit of Islam. As President of Black Nonbelievers, Inc., Mandisa works to encourage more blacks to come out and stand strong with their nonbelief in the face of such strong religious overtones. This event was recorded on location at the School of Fine Arts by WFHB correspondents for Standing room only, on WFHB.

Listen to the complete talk here »

*MC Brooks
*Mandisa Thomas
*Ayanna Watson
*AJ Johnson
*Victor Harris Jr.

and MANY more!

Admission is free and open to ALL!

VIP seating and food will be available.

More information can be found here. 

Please contact Ayanna Watson or Mandisa Thomas if you have questions. 

Within the secular community, after attending meetups, conferences or other events, many minority atheists often come away feeling overlooked, underrated and underrepresented.

I personally never knew how important being part of a minority focused group would be until I started attending these events for myself.

My first meetup in Michigan was shocking to say the least. I was stunned that I was the only Black atheist in attendance. Initially I wanted to leave – but the need for human interaction weighed mightily upon me. I was extremely uncomfortable, but I challenged myself – it was time to break out of my comfort zone. The group was friendly enough, but I knew I hadn’t made the connections I’d hoped for.

Several different meetups and a couple of conferences later, it became alarmingly apparent – diversity was and still is LACKING – not only in Michigan, but also across the country. Not only were there few, if any, faces that resembled mine at these atheist events, and those who didn’t look like me spoke to me only if I reached out first. This isn’t my exclusive experience – other minority atheists share the same sentiments.

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At funerals, Warren Hughes always finds a seat in the back where, when the preaching and praying begins, he can slip out discreetly. He doesn't bow his head pretending to pray because he hasn't believed in prayer, or God, since he was 30 years old.

"If I stay there and bow my head, I am sanctioning what they are doing. I don't sanction it because I think it's wrong," said Hughes, who grew up in the Christian Science church. "I give no validity to mysticism at all."

Warren Hughes is 79, and until a year ago, he had never met anyone like himself: a black atheist. In the atheists groups he has joined, he was often the only black person.

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WASHINGTON – The Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held annually on the final weekend in February. Nonbelievers use this day as an opportunity to build genuine communal relationships and launch a wave of activism among non-theists of color.

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Even as Black History month prepares to close out its final week, this Sunday marks the emergence of a nascent movement that promises a radical new direction for many in African-American communities.

As it has for the past couple of years now, the fourth Sunday of February has been designated the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-believers, a call for unity among the relatively small but fast-growing ranks of African-American atheists, agnostics and freethinkers.

All around the country, local and national organizations of black atheists are holding small meet-ups, huge conferences and intense symposia in an effort both to support each other and to draw attention to the increasing numbers of blacks who are rejecting gods and churches in favor of reason and a deep skepticism toward the religious idealism that has been a traditional hallmark of black communities nationwide.

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One of the biggest misconceptions about Black people is that we all believe in god(s). Many people, including many Black people, continue to believe that religion is synonymous with Black life. It is not unusual to hear people make the false claim that the Civil Rights Movement would not have been possible without Black churches.

One of the things that I am passionate about is spotlighting trailblazers in the Black community. It is for that reason that I spotlight Sikivu Hutchinson, a Black atheist. Hutchinson is a writer and senior intergroup specialist for the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission. She received a Ph.D. from New York University and has taught at UCLA, the California Institute of the Arts and Western Washington University.

Sikivu Hutchinson fights passionately for racial justice, gender justice, LGBT justice, and economic justice for all Black people. Her atheism is firmly rooted in secular humanism. Her activism powerfully rejects the stereotype that care and concern for the Black community must come from a religious perspective.

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You can RSVP on the Facebook event page, or contact Diane by e-mail or at (562) 522-6951.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.

Come join the Fellowship of Freethought Dallas for their Day of Solidarity, featuring a short keynote presentation by the FoFDallas' Executive Director Alix Jules. Alix is a member of the Advisory Committee for African Americans for Humanism, and participated in the 2012 We Are AAH campaign. You may also have seen his face on a billboard along I-35W in South Dallas.

Alix will be sharing his story, but we want to hear your story too! If you're a Black nonbeliever or an atheist of color, come share your story as well, and meet others like you who have left their religious upbringing or who have resisted its cultural influence.

Immediately following this event, all are invited to join the group for lunch at Tillman's Roadhouse in the Bishop Arts district of Dallas.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.

Just about a year ago, Dallas's atheist community announced a new billboard in South Dallas, celebrating "black atheists and freethinkers." This year, just in time for the tail end of black history month, the Fellowship of Freethought, Dallas' largest atheist group, is announcing a spinoff organization for its black members. Called Black Nonbelievers of Dallas, it's launching Sunday and will be the first dedicated black atheist organization in Texas. The group is modeled on and supported by Black Nonbelievers Inc., an Atlanta-based group.

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It is a sad fact that people of color, particularly African American nonbelievers, are alienated within the secular community. Among the ‘faith’ communities, even those with the most racist and sexist doctrines, continue to do whatever it takes (and make no apologies) as they aggressively recruit and make space in their communities for people of color. Based on their disinterest in any recruiting efforts, the leadership of the secular community is apparently very proud of the fact that they, on the other hand, have few people of African descent in leadership positions as well as very few members. While there is no genuine intent or concerted plan to change this situation, many attempt to explain this phenomena by claiming that black folk are just too addicted to religion; otherwise, those of us who aren’t addicted to religion are either nominal or closet atheists, and therefore, need not be taken seriously. During the past 25 years, I belonged to many secular organizations; it was indeed a challenge to remain in them.

When African American atheists attempt to expand their visibility and participation in the secular community by organizing with other nonbelievers—especially those who have been historically ignored by the leadership of the secular community—to publicly celebrate their freedom from religious dogma; when we ask everyone in the secular community to celebrate along with us, and we set aside one day out of the entire year to do so, there’s a problem! Last year, some very intelligent and insightful atheists declared efforts to organize a Day of Solidarity for Black Non-believers as segregation! Those same people are otherwise dead silent about the segregation, hostility, and alienation directed towards black atheists within the secular community year-round.

In 2012, author Donald Wright and I sent out nearly 400 written requests to secular organizations as well as individuals asking that they support the Day of Solidarity by posting a promotional piece on their websites and asking that they plan a Day of Solidarity in their own communities. Over 90% of those requests were met with silence, not only from white atheists, but from people of color as well. There were also positive responses to the Day of Solidarity. And, quite frankly, the secular community is better off because of those responses and the entire secular community ought to celebrate not only independent thinkers but independent activists as well. Yet the current trend is to support inertia, self-promotion, and those who aren’t particularly motivated to make waves.

While I can think of none, there may be legitimate reasons to not support the Day of Solidarity; however failing to support it because it represents independent actions on the part of independent thinkers in the secular community isn’t a legitimate reason. The Day of Solidarity can be celebrated by anyone who cares to do so; and while it is hoped that many people celebrate it, that fact is that its ‘success’ isn’t dependent on any one group and whether two people in 20 communities or 20 people in two communities plan events is irrelevant. Its success lies only in the fact that those who want to mark the fourth Sunday in February—Black History Month—will do so in their own community in their own way. Who would be harmed by these independent actions?

In 2011, Donald Wright first proposed holding a Day of Solidarity for Black Non-believers without asking anyone’s permission; he didn’t wait to see if hundreds of people would line up behind the idea before taking that first step and creating a Day of Solidarity in Houston, Texas. Although there doesn’t seem to be much promotion for the Day of Solidarity this year, no one has to wait for permission to celebrate the Day of Solidarity either. If anyone, anywhere, wants to celebrate the DoS, please, go right ahead and create your own event; contact other nonbelievers in your own community and decide how you’d like to spend that time with each other: share a meal; visit an art gallery or museum; go see a movie or a play; go ice-skating; etc. Make some phone calls, post your event on your own Facebook page as well as on the DoS Facebook page; celebrate, and remain an activist—not just a joiner—for the rest of the year; make a commitment to social change. Right now, what society needs are people who are committed to social change; we have enough talkers, and in order to create meaningful change, we must each assume leadership by doing the right thing—with or without company!

The future as well as the integrity of the secular community depends not on people who do as they are told, but on those of us who are both independent thinkers and activists.

This year CFI–NYC, CFI–Harlem, Black Atheists of America, and Harlem Humanists will focus on the diversity of careers within the secular community.

Please join them for a day full of fun activities! ALL are Welcome. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.

Program:

Ayanna Watson of Black Atheists of America has sparked a project focusing on the diversity of careers within the secular community. The project includes photographic portraits and some personal testimony about work experience, passion and aspiration. Ayanna will introduce some of the project’s participants. There will be the chance to ask questions and share stories, including your own.

Seon M. Lewis, The Spice Island Atheist and one of the voices of Caribbean Atheists, is a consistent Harlem Community member known from his sharp observations, broad knowledge and warm easygoing style. He recently completed the book From Mythology to Reality: Moving Beyond Rastafari. His liberating intellectual journey from theism, through mystical Afrocentrism, to reasoned non-theism is one of following the evidence to where it leads.  Seon will share how he came to write his book, which challenges pseudo-history and false assumptions about a vital resistance culture. It also looks at how an inspiring rebel community can fall pray to sexism, racism, homophobia and xenophobia. The way he respectfully engages family and community in a conversation about mythology and fiction vs. reality and facts is an informative one. How to be Afrocentric without drowning in the dogma of Afrocentrism, or any “...ism” including our own, is part of what he’ll share.

Dinner afterwards at local Restaurant (TBA).

After event entertainment: "The Vagina Monologues," to benefit "Sanctuary for Families." 6pm at All Souls Unitarian Church.

Please contact black.beyond.belief@gmail.com for more info or visit http://cfinewyork.net/events/101748482/. 

Admission to the museum is $10 ($8 for students)
International Civil Rights Museum Address: 134 S Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27401

For more information contact Crys Bennett or visit http://www.meetup.com/Black-Atheists-of-the-Triad/.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.

Please contact Bridgett Crutchfield if you have questions or may have trouble covering the cost of the event. For more information visit the group's Meetup page.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.

Celebrated nationwide on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the Day of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers (DoS) is held to promote community and solidarity among blacks in America who identify as non-believers: atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. The DoS was organized as a way to counter the religious voice that all too often serves as the lone voice of black consciousness and experience. These gatherings will promote fellowship and the pursuit of humanist strategies to solve the problems facing humanity—especially those affecting the black community.