Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical

Download or read book Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical written by Sikivu Hutchinson and published by Sikivu Hutchinson. This book was released on 2020-04-07 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Feminism and atheism are “dirty words” that Americans across the political spectrum love to debate—and hate. Throw them into a blender and you have a toxic brew that supposedly defies decency, respectability, and Americana. Add an “unapologetically” Black critique to the mix and it’s a deal-breaking social taboo. Putting gender at the center of the equation, progressive “Religious Nones” of color are spearheading an anti-racist, social justice humanism that disrupts the “colorblind” ethos of European American atheist and humanist agendas, which focus principally on church-state separation. These critical interventions build on the lived experiences and social histories of segregated Black and Latinx communities that are increasingly under economic siege. In this context, Hutchinson makes a valuable and necessary call for social justice change in a polarized climate where Black women’s political power has become a galvanizing national force.