Black Nonbelievers, Inc.
According to the Black Believers, Inc. website:
| “ | Black Nonbelievers (BN) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization headquartered in the Atlanta area that is dedicated to providing a caring, festive, friendly, and informative community. We connect with other Blacks (and allies) who are living free of religion and other beliefs, and might otherwise be shunned by family and friends.[2] | ” |
Contents
Mission
According to the Black Nonbelievers, Inc. website, the mission of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. is to:
- Provide secular fellowship.
- Nurture and support nonbelievers in coming out (ie, open identification).
- Promote atheist pride.
- Organize nonbelievers for charitable causes.[3]
(For information on "atheist pride" see: Atheism and arrogance)
Scandal involving Mandissa Thomas who is the president of Black Nonbelievers, Inc.
See also: Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheist scandals and Atheist factions and Atheism and social skills
On December 20, 2022, the Religion News Service reported:
| “ | The annual SeaCon cruise and conference is meant to be a high point of the year for members of Black Nonbelievers Inc., a nonprofit that offers community to Black Americans who live “free of religion.”
However, this year’s conference, held from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, has left a rift in the organization, with leaders at most of the group’s local chapters quitting and raising questions about one of the most prominent Black atheists in the country. In a statement dated Dec. 5, leaders from five chapters — in New York; Detroit; Portland, Ore.; Louisville, Ky.; and Washington, D.C. — said they were cutting ties with Black Nonbelievers and its president, Mandisa Thomas. The letter mentioned “events that culminated horribly” during the cruise but did not give specifics. “As leaders, we should take pride in modeling and rewarding the right way to treat people who follow our example,” they wrote. “While certain behaviors may be acceptable even as key goals are met, we conclude that to permit unethical behavior(s) behind the scenes will lead — and is leading — to a loss of good people and reputation for the organization that we love and spent ten years to build.” Before the letter from chapter leaders was made public, Black Nonbelievers had 8 local chapters, though some were dormant.[4] |
” |
On February 1, 2023 the Religious News Service reported in an article entitled American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations:
| “ | Two board members of American Atheists, one of the nation’s best-known atheist advocacy organizations, resigned in the past month after ethical concerns were raised about their actions at conferences for nonbelievers.
Mandisa Thomas, president of Black Nonbelievers, Inc., gave up her seat on the board of American Atheists on on Jan. 11, weeks after she was accused of violating Black Nonbelievers’ code of conduct during the group’s annual SeaCon cruise and conference held Thanksgiving weekend. After the allegations became public, Thomas told Religion News Service that she had mishandled a “personal situation” during the conference and had apologized.[5] |
” |
See also
- Atheist organizations
- Black atheism
- Black Atheists of America
- Sikivu Hutchinson
- Jamila Bey
- Western atheism and race
- Atheism and racism
- Atheism, race and gender
Notes
- ↑ American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations, Religious News Service 2023
- ↑ Black Nonbelievers, Inc. website
- ↑ Black Nonbelievers, Inc. website
- ↑ Black atheist leaders quit Black Nonbelievers over alleged misconduct by president
- ↑ American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations, Religious News Service 2023
