The Unbelievers

[rug]

By EMILY BRENNAN
November 25, 2011

RONNELLE ADAMS came out to his mother twice, first about his homosexuality, then about his atheism.

“My mother is very devout,” said Mr. Adams, 30, a Washington resident who has published an atheist children’s book, “Aching and Praying,” but who in high school considered becoming a Baptist preacher. “She started telling me her issues with homosexuality, which were, of course, Biblical,” he said. “ ‘I just don’t care what the Bible says about that,’ I told her, and she asked why. ‘I don’t believe that stuff anymore.’ It got silent. She was distraught. She told me she was more bothered by that than the revelation I was gay.”

This was in 2000, and Mr. Adams did not meet another black atheist in Washington until 2009, when he found the Facebook group called Black Atheists, which immediately struck a chord. “I felt like, ‘100 black atheists? Wow!’ ” he said.

In the two years since, Black Atheists has grown to 879 members from that initial 100, YouTube confessionals have attracted thousands, blogs like “Godless and Black” have gained followings, and hundreds more have joined Facebook groups like Black Atheist Alliance (524 members) to share their struggles with “coming out” about their atheism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/fashion/african-american-atheists.html

[NMMNG]

1. Some things are consistent

“I think it attracted so much attention because, in the black community, not believing in God is seen as a thing for white people,”

Just like being gay. The bigotry Adams faces for being black, gay and atheist must be overwhelming. He's pretty courageous for coming out.

[Kali]

2. interesting

being a little isolated from "Black America," I never really thought about this

[Jim__]

3. "Labels are mentally lazy ways by which people assert they know you without knowing you."

I agree with Dr. deGrasse Tyson 100% on that statement. Getting to know people is what's important; not the labels you put on them.

[NMMNG]

5. How true

Hence all of the people who tell atheists what they think/believe rather than listening to what the atheists themselves say, all of the straight people who are somehow experts on LGBT people, and so on.

[tblue]

4. That is a lonely road.

Bless his brave soul. In the black community where I grew up, I wasn't aware of anyone who was atheist or gay -- in our neighborhood or school. But I am sure they were there. I don't think anyone would've been mean to them, but their mom probably would cry when they came out. Mothers are supremely important so her reaction could destroy a person. I hope new generations will be more open.