One day when a friend said, “You are absolutely an activist,” I resisted. ‘The pursuit of knowing was freedom to me, the right to declare your own curiosities and follow them through all manner of books. American author and Black Humanist, Ta-Nehisi Coates, writes about cultural, social, and political issues, particularly in relation to African Americans and white supremacy. Black and white young people, principally college students, in the late 50s and 1960s in our country did not have the benefit of instant communication with one another by use of the internet and companion social network technologies of Facebook, Twitter, and smart phones. Recently my focus has included both human and animal rights in our food system and working towards creating sustainable food systems. This question has very practical implications for anyone studying humanism, whether … Nor did the tenets of his followers’ holy book, and the society in which I was raised, offer me support to fully recognize my dignity as Black, female, and not heterosexual. I have been involved in social justice issues for over twenty years. Barbara Ehrenreich, born on August 26, 1941, is best known for her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America which was published in 2001. But if not me, who? When God was stripped away, my concern for humanity remained. What we don’t do as often is celebrate the black humanists who have shaped the humanist movement and are part of our modern tradition so here are seven of the best! ‘Words like freedom, justice, and democracy are not common concepts; on the contrary, they are rare… It takes enormous and, above all, individual effort to arrive at the respect for other people that these words imply.’. She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her fourteen-year-old daughter. The attraction of some SNCC workers to the Black Panther Party led by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale was based upon a common concern with transformative activity that held as its measuring stick the welfare of African Americans and other oppressed groups. a source of joy and creativity as well as hatred and frustration. My mother says I was a “humble child” until I became a teenager, but in the same breath will relay anecdotes of my boldness early on. Her most famous play. IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FACT that black women have served as the backbone of the black church since its inception. She eyeballed me, and I eyeballed her back as she shuffled her ass to the end of the line. ‘Children see things very well sometimes – and idealists even better’. There’s a history of people, famous and not so famous, whom have doubted. I was made for the library, not the classroom. Famous Humanists in History Key Issues We are committed to building an inclusive America grounded in an embrace of reason, ethics, scientific inquiry, and compassion- rather than religious dogma. Slowly, I was discovering myself.’. I CAME TO IDENTIFY as an atheist after exploring the question of why there is so much senseless suffering, and recognizing ways in which white supremacy, patriarchy, and anti-LGBTQ sentiment is embedded in religious doctrine and in our culture. BHNBS is also for those who are questioning their religious beliefs and are seeking information on atheism/humanism/etc. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *, Last week, I was tweeting like many people about the US election (specifically what a relief it is to have…, This morning, three civilians were murdered in France – stabbed to death and beheaded – by an Islamic extremist. The British Humanist Association is the national charity supporting and representing people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. Novelist, activist, folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston was best known for her portrayals of racial struggles in the American South. He later disavowed racism and the Nation of Islam. It’s to show that we as a people have more power than we realize, and that we are empowered to grow beyond what we’ve been taught. He received his MA and PhD in American history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I felt my mother’s gaze upon me. Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist, Wole Soyinka, has dedicated his life to humanist goals such as universal freedom of expression, and is still a formidably strident critic of Islamic fundamentalism. Blacks have served and … Novelist and story writer Zadie Smith, is best known for her, treatment of race, religion, and cultural identity, creating writings that deliver thought-provoking depictions of culture clashes which are shown to be. Christopher Cameron is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. RECENTLY, MY STUDENTS led a series of sexual violence and sexual harassment peer education trainings at their predominantly African-American and Latinx South Los Angeles high schools. Our leadership is comprised mostly of women, and our existence has amplified the voices of more women who have broken free from religious beliefs, which incorporates feminism. Recent protests and campaigns for racial justice and equality have inspired many movements and organisations to re-dedicate themselves to foregrounding black members and influences. We are building community, creating connections, and helping others, which incorporates humanism. Patrons of Humanists UK include: Professor Alice Roberts (President) […] My humanist activism is inseparable from my identity as a Black feminist, atheist, writer, educator, sexual violence survivor, and union shop steward living in and around segregated African-American neighborhoods routinely demonized as “dangerous” and “other.”  Yet, when the dominant culture thinks about humanism and secular values, it is traditionally through a white, Eurocentric lens removed from the progressive anti-capitalist, anti-racist, feminist struggle. Our current food system implements policies and practices that work to maintain political and corporate power. It isn’t perfect, and we can’t save everyone, 
but our goal isn’t to save. ‘Why fear? The next time you hear a telephone ring, think of James West. Whether it has been the establishment of local groups like the Black Skeptics of Los Angeles, 
founded by Sikivu Hutchinson, or the creation of national organizations such as Black Nonbelievers, Inc., founded by Mandisa Thomas, African-­American women have indelibly stamped their imprint on the freethought movement. Playwright and writer, Lorraine Hansberry was one of the intellectual giants of the New York literary scene of the 1950s and 1960s. The root of that mentality is the same for any other system of injustice. It started close to home. And our mission and values
include the LGBTQ com­munity, a community represented in our leadership and membership, which incorporates intersectionality. founded by Sikivu Hutchinson, or the creation of national organizations such as Black Nonbelievers, Inc., founded by Mandisa Thomas, African-­American women have indelibly stamped their imprint on the freethought movement. In addition, this violent food system creates another group of victims we rarely discuss, namely the nonhuman animals we exploit. It’s possible. Creating a foundation where people can come to terms with their atheism/nonbelief within a community that has already suffered from marginalization has been monumental. ‘If you find enough courage to speak out what you are, you will find that you’re not alone.’. 10 Most Influential Black People in American History 11 Most Famous Court Cases in America Actor African American America American history Athletes Barack Obama blacks Booker T. Washington Brown v. Bridgett Crutchfield was baptized and raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, from which she was later disfellowshipped. Those most negatively affected, locally and globally, are Black and Brown people. Hope some of them may capture your attention and inspire you to learn more. The library was open, unending, free. His works include. BSLA promotes social justice work through a secular humanist perspective. I do recall vividly a white woman “cutting the line” in front of my mother as we waited to register our names at the doctor’s office. She is on the advisory council of the Black Humanist Alliance of the American Humanist Association and is a member of the Secular Therapist Project and the Clergy Project. I care about the people in the communities 
I belong to. Our mission is to support and encourage all people, particularly those from the African Diaspora, who are Freethinkers, Non-believers, Atheists and of course, Humanists. Novelist Richard Wright, was known for his work concerning racial themes, especially related to the plight of African Americans during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. The wide belt of the universe has no need for finger-rings. We fight because it’s who we are. The book was highly acclaimed by Newsweek magazine and by The New Yorker. Handler calls himself an atheist and a secular humanist. Since 2012 I have been an active member of Black Skeptics Los Angeles. Black men and women made great contributions to American society throughout the 20th century, advancing civil rights as well as science, government, sports, and entertainment. … Ronda Racha Penrice. The book was about her three-year experience of being an ordinary minimum-wage earner. That overprotectiveness and boldness are old and familiar friends to this day. Don Hogan Charles / Getty Images. See more ideas about humanist, atheist, famous atheists. Secular humanist thinking, in my view, includes critical thinking, knowledge, compassion, and empathy. The call remained. Reader (Basic Civitas Books, 2012) Mapping connections between the systems that create inequities in the world reinforces in me the need to be involved in creating social change. Patrons of Humanists UK include some of the most important scientists and physicians of modern times, as well as leading writers and artists, politicians, actors and entertainers, athletes, journalists, human rights activists, and academics. I am one with the infinite and need no other assurance.’. When there was no Christian-inspired family structure with a male “head” anointed to protect the women, my love for my sistahs intensified. Famous For: Black Leonardo promoted alternative crops to cotton. Candace R.M. The Association of Black Humanists (ABH), formally London Black Atheists (LBA), welcomes you all. Novelist Richard Wright, was known for his work concerning racial themes, especially related to the plight of African Americans during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. My mother didn’t say anything, but I promptly advised the stranger of her intentional mishap. The classroom was a jail of other people’s interests. DuBois, Hubert H. Harrison, and Richard Wright.Section Two features essays by black … 2 Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. If not me, who? I was approximately nine years old and had no thought, concept, or knowledge of race relations or their implications, but I was sensitive to the fact that someone overstepped their damn bounds with my MOTHER. A former evangelical minister, she founded the Ebony Exodus Project to explore the reasons record numbers of black women were leaving the church and in 2013 published The Ebony Exodus Project: Why Some Black Women Are Walking Out on Religion and Others Should Too. His first novel was Go Tell It on the Mountain in 1953 and first essay collection, Notes on a Native Son in 1955, Baldwin became a leading literary voice of the civil rights movement. As an ordained minister, I thought I was obeying a special calling to which I was mandated to put in a certain amount of my own blood, sweat, and tears; but at the end of the day, it was God. Gorham is a licensed professional counselor with a background in middle and high school education. Hence, there are no simple solutions. Leading this work on a daily basis in communities of color that are often erased from mainstream public policy and discourse on sexual violence is at the core of my commitment to humanist critical consciousness and social justice. His works include Native Son and The Outsider. For example, our community work on sexual violence education draws from a long tradition of Black feminist human rights resistance that shaped the modern civil rights movement. Humanists UK co-organised the first global congress against racism in the UK in 1911 and was a campaigner against colonialism, and its social and intellectual forebears have a good record on opposing slavery and injustice. They have pushed both black and white freethinkers to broaden their conceptions of humanism and have shown that despite arguments to the contrary, feminism is not only compatible with humanism but is also a central part of what it means to be a humanist. Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist, Wole Soyinka. Walking away, as inviting as that sounds, isn’t an option. Shirley Chisholm is best known for her 1972 bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination; she was the first Black woman to make this attempt in a major political party.However, she had been active in state and national politics for more than a decade and had represented parts of Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly from 1965 to 1968. Black artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Augusta Savage, Kara Walker, Jacob Lawrence and Gordon Parks show the African American perspective to the world. Association of Black Humanists was formed (as London Black Atheists) in November 2012 by Clive Aruede, a former Catholic Church eucharistic minister, Lola Tinubu, who had grown up an evangelical Christian and two other friends. ‘The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.’. , contains an extended reflection on how human achievements are often erroneously credited to religion. The experience also played a pivotal role in liberating my mind from negative self-reflection. The black women freethinkers featured here, as well as the thousands who aren’t, push us to consider the central role of social justice activism in both our freethought activities and in our daily lives. In this article at Famous Scientists, we will discuss the famous black scientists, physicians, inventors throughout history and their wonderful achievements. Black women have long connected the sexual terrorism they experienced working in private homes and public spaces with the fight for economic justice and self-determination. Working with youth from all genders and sexualities, they broke down the complexities of rape culture, sexual violence, victim blaming, and “toxic masculinity” from their intersectional lived experiences. Critiques of the black church based upon materialist approaches to social transformation continued through the Black Panther Party. Besides these opinions, there are other scholars who trace the origins of humanism even further back in time to the Afro-Asiatic Black women raised funds for church buildings, evangelized for their churches around the world, and constituted the majority of members in denominations such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Carver advocated to plant crops alongside cotton that would help people provide for their own food. His first book, To Plead Our Own Cause: African Americans in Massachusetts and the Making of the Antislavery Movement, was published in 2014, and he is currently working on a history of African-American freethinkers from the nineteenth century to the civil rights era. Today, she is celebrated for her contributions to the academic understanding of African American folklore and for her accurate depictions of language and oral tradition in her work. Humanists have made and are making a powerful contribution to human well-being. For over a decade, my work has centered on culturally responsive teaching, program development, mentoring, youth leadership training, and college readiness for first-generation Black girls and youth of color impacted by the school-to-prison and sexual abuse-to-prison pipelines. And my being vocal typically entails utilizing salty, “unladylike” language, much to the chagrin of those who attempt to subjugate me into their patriarchal boxes. in 1955, Baldwin became a leading literary voice of the civil rights movement. SOCIAL JUSTICE has been defined as a concept of fair and just relations between individuals and society. Mandisa Thomas is the founder and president of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, and other major media outlets regarding atheism in the black community. Below is the world’s largest database of the most famous black people in history – men and women – with their detailed biographies and pictures. The genesis of the anthology, Bambara says, ‘grew out of impatience with the lack of writing for African-American women by African-American women.’ As one of the freethinkers of the Harlem Renaissance, his work has been attributed to helping change attitudes towards and ideas about race. Playwright and writer, Lorraine Hansberry was one of the intellectual giants of the New York literary scene of the 1950s and 1960s. Once I separated from religion and fully embraced the humanist ideal that people must take care of each other because we’re all we have, the urge to engage in social justice activism became too strong to ignore. Food sovereignty and food security is complex because it includes focusing on anti-racism, anti-xenophobia, the rights of workers and farmers, nonviolence against women, animal rights, health, environmental sustainability, and fair economic systems. He is a strong critic of successive Nigerian governments. American author and Black Humanist, Ta-Nehisi Coates, writes about cultural, social, and political issues, particularly in relation to African Americans and white supremacy. Among the most significant developments in this movement over the past thirty years has been its institutionalization, and here, as always, black women have played leading roles. The 25 Most Influential Black American Leaders of All Time. The disappointment felt at the age of nine when that brazen woman stepped before my mother is the same disappointment that permeates my being as I observe organized humanists being selectively humanistic. Carver also introduced one hundred by-products of … He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, the first African to be honoured in that category. And we can be bold with our atheist identities in the process. It should come as no surprise, then, that black women have made the modern black freethought movement possible. We re­main steadfast because we’re compelled to. Commentary on TheHumanist.com does not constitute an official position of the American Humanist Association unless specifically noted. Sure, I knew my community was hurting before, but I always believed there was a god who was going to fix all of humanity’s problems. It was always on God to get the job done. February 29, 2016. Humanists, who care about the building of a more rational and fairer society, should always be ready to combat not just hate and prejudice but the injustice that arises from long standing inequalities. His first novel was. humanists pointed backwards to the Greek and Roman philosophers (among the Sophists, Skeptics, Stoics and the Cynics) who variously attempted finding solution to human existence in man (Madigan 326-327). From the earliest days of the African presence in the United States, blacks have contributed to the fiber of American culture, ranging from useful inventions to innovative musical interludes, and beyond. 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