Black Atheists of America

Going One God Further Atheism

Key Concepts

Atheism Agnosticism Antitheism FAQ for the Newly Deconverted

Articles to not believe in

Accommodationism Pascal's wager William Brevard Hand American Atheists

Notable heathens

Edward Abbey Pat Condell Kurt Saxon Sam Harris v - t - e

Black Atheists of America is an organization that focuses on highlighting the lives of prominent African-American atheists, bringing awareness of atheism to the black community, and providing a community to atheists who happen to be black. Ayanna Watson founded the group.

“”Because religion is so deeply ingrained in the black community, black atheists often find themselves as a dual minority in the overall atheist community. BAA hopes that its efforts will build a stronger overall atheist community by encouraging black atheists to be open about their stance on religion.

Their Facebook community is actively building the connections they desired in their mission statements.

Programs of note, funded by BAA

• Science Cubed³: Focuses on the importance of science to highschool students, and equal access for all students. They donate texts and science equipment to schools after meeting with the teachers regarding what's crucial for schools.
• After School Cubed ³: Works to enhance critical thinking skills for kids in afterschool programs. They recognize a need in that the poorest or inner-city parents are not equipped (due to education) or available to help students think, question, and explore.

Highlighted personalities

• A. Philip Randolph (April 15, 1889 – May 16, 1979) - Civil rights and 'community leader'.
• Thelma "Butterfly" McQueen (January 7, 1911 – December 22, 1995) - Dancer, actress, an activist against 'black stereotype' in film and TV.
• Hubert Harrison (April 27, 1883 - December 17, 1927) - West Indian-American writer, educator, scholar.
• Alton Lemon - Lemon is best known for winning one of the first "Freedom from religion" cases, Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971. The case invalidated the "right" of the government to fund so-called 'secular' aspects of private religious education.

Similar groups

• The Black Atheist -Blogger giving a minority voice in the atheist blogosphere.
• American Atheist discussion on Black Atheists.
• Black Skeptics – a black blog covering skepticism and atheism.

External links

• Black Atheists of America on Facebook
• Black Freethought from Slavery to Civil Rights: Atheism and Agnosticism in African American Cultural and Intellectual Life: An article that details the history of Freethought and secularism in the black community, its role and benefit, and how it applied and helped in the dismantling of white-supremacist social norms, and the eventual foundations of organizations such as the Black Atheists of America, and their importance.