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AFRICAN AMERICANS FOR HUMANISM (AAH) UPDATE
By Norm R. Allen Jr.
From April 16-24, I traveled to Florida to discuss humanism in Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee. I spoke on numerous radio programs and one television program, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
I spoke at Unitarian Universalist churches, libraries, restaurants, colleges and universities. My major topics were the harm to Black people resulting from negative religious ideas, superstition, and anti-scientific notions, and a history of humanism in the Black community.
In Tampa I spoke on the television program “Your Turn,” hosted by Kathy Fountain on Fox 13 TV. I was joined by a local Christian minister and a local religious studies professor. Most of the callers were critical of religion and sympathetic to secular humanism. Such was the case on the various radio programs on which I appeared.
In Tallahassee I visited Florida A&M University (FAMU), one of the premier Black universities in the United States. The students there were inquisitive and respectful, and some of them expressed interest in learning more about secular humanism. Professor Dave Felder teaches philosophy at the school and has been a long time supporter of the Center for Inquiry. I was interviewed by the school newspaper and addressed several students.
I will be speaking to the Center for Inquiry/Harlem Discussion Group and the Center for Inquiry/Indiana in the near future. From August 7-9, there will be a groundbreaking gathering of African American non-theists in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference has been called by Atlanta resident Gary C. Booker in an effort to combat negative religious teachings and pseudoscience in the African community. The workshops will be held at the Atlanta Fulton Public Library downtown at 1 Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, Georgia, 30307. For more information, contact Gary C. Booker at sir_mantis@hotmail.com.
The Center for Inquiry/Transnational has just launched an anti-superstition campaign for the African continent. The main focus is on witchcraft. Alleged witches have been persecuted in numerous African nations. The most vulnerable members of society—children, women, and the elderly—have been the main victims. Moreover, in nations such as Burundi and Tanzania, some people kill albinos to harvest their body parts that have supposed magical powers.
Leo Igwe of the Center for Inquiry/Nigeria is spearheading the campaign. He is leading workshops on how to combat superstition and he will have the lead role in drawing up a major statement against superstition and in defense of rationality to be presented to the media and world leaders.
Humanist conferences are now being planned for Malawi and South Africa. There is a Center for Inquiry in Zambia and a humanist group in Swaziland. Interest in humanism is growing in Southern Africa and more people there are becoming increasingly interested in promoting it. Paul Munyenyembe, the founder of the Association of Secular Humanists of Malawi, visited New York recently. He met with Sibanye of the Center for Inquiry/Harlem Discussion Group, and visited the Center for Inquiry/New York City. He is more motivated than ever to spread positive secular messages throughout Southern Africa.
Norm R. Allen Jr. is the executive director of African Americans for Secular Humanism
The Chickasaw Plum - Volume VI - Number 8 - August 2009
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