The Importance of Minority Groups within the Secular Movement
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.
Keep in mind; I have no qualms about speaking first. However, I wouldn’t mind being engaged rather than struggling through another stilted conversation.
‘Why aren’t there many (insert minority here) attending conferences?’ is a question often posed. Ok, so what is being offered at these conferences that would make minorities want to spend hard earned money on travel, let alone purchase an expensive ticket to gain entrance to the conference? Is it necessary or relevant for us to sit through 3-4 days of science presentations, when we’re still dealing with ‘Driving while Black (Latino, Middle Eastern, etc.)’ issues in our neighborhoods? Science, of course, has its place in the community, but for minorities such as myself, social issues like bigotry and redlining remain at the forefront.
Invest in us and in turn, we’ll invest in the atheist movement as a whole.
Recently, an online post on an atheist site featured Mandisa Thomas, President of Black Nonbelievers, Inc., and she was accused of being racist. Why? Because her organization includes the word “Black”. Unfortunately, instead of asking questions in an attempt to gain understanding of who we are, we’re typically quickly and unapologetically labeled as racists. This is not an uncommon reaction from the atheist community, one that prides itself on the ideal of “Question Everything”.
Mandisa explains, “Those who think race issues have gone away are sadly mistaken. And misconceptions about atheism in the Black community in particular are extremely prevalent. If we are going to bring about significant change, we must be honest about these factors, and do what is necessary to turn this tide around. Creating groups that primarily focus on target areas help the overall community on a realistic level.”
Why are separate organizations geared towards specific racial communities in the atheist movement created? The need is there. Many of us are disowned from our biological families. These organizations serve, for many of us, as extended families. Additionally, we can address issues common to our specific communities. For example, how many communities have had religion forced upon them in the same way the African American (AA) Community has? How many communities have been historically enslaved, only to have the oppressed community perpetuate religious enslavement upon their own loved ones? Racial minorities are steeped in religion. From the Latino/a, to Asian, to Middle Eastern, to the African American communities – religion is a prerequisite. A mandate. And each subset carries its own burdens. Those issues are not talked about in depth at predominantly Caucasian atheist events.
“I think Minority atheist groups are vital to the atheist community as whole in that they provide support to the growing number of disenfranchised minorities, isolated from their "loved ones", who seek a sense of community with FAMILIAR cultures, ultimately, in an effort to assure them that they are NOT ALONE,” said Minority Atheists of Michigan member, Theron Jackson.
For those who are unaware of the plight of the Black atheist, I’d like to suggest reading Dr. Darrell Smith’s book, BlackNones: You are Not Alone. The book features stories of Black atheists from across the country. A consistent theme runs throughout the book, that many thought they were alone as atheists. Minority atheist groups help these folks realize that there are others with similar struggles, giving them a place to create a new community that does not judge them on their lack of faith.
I’m optimistic. Inevitably, I believe the schism between the majority atheists and the minority atheists will close. But until such time, minority atheists who choose to seek solace among those who reflect them most should be encouraged, not discouraged. It’s not racist; it’s pure and simple survival.
