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

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.