Bloggers were invited to talk about the ways in which their blogs bring forth activism. Thus, October 15, 2012, was designated to call attention to The Power of We. My writings have helped to spread important humanist messages and get more people active in organized humanism. Many non-theists have remained in the closet out of fear of being ostracized, discriminated against, disowned by their families, etc. However, due to the tremendous power and influence of the World Wide Web, more and more non-theists are coming out of the closet in record numbers and engaging in activism.
During the 1990s, freethinker Farrell Till edited a newsletter called the Skeptical Review. Till predicted that, because of the remarkable growth of the Internet, large numbers of people would have access to material that clearly shows that theism is not intellectually justifiable. Furthermore, he predicted that the availability of this information would increase freethought dramatically. How prescient he was!
It is truly astounding how far non-theism has come. The Internet offers people anonymity, and thus, courage that they otherwise might not have. Moreover, they no longer have to go to bookstores or libraries that do not have freethought literature; nor do they have to depend on mainstream publications that never feature strong critiques of theism. Rather, open-minded people may visit uncensored freethought Websites, chat groups, blogs, etc. In the comments sections on numerous mainstream Websites, it is not unusual to find that freethinkers far outnumber traditional theists, and provide far more cogent arguments to support their positions than do their traditional religious counterparts.
I have used my writings to promote news about major events of interest to freethinkers. For example, I have written about Donald R. Wright, author of The Only Prayer I’ll Ever Pray: Let My People Go. Wright calls for a special day of coming out for Black Nonbelievers to be held on the last Sunday of February, Black History Month.
Recently, I wrote about Jeremiah Camara, author of Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress?, and The New Doubting Thomas: The Bible, Black Folks and Blind Belief. Camara is currently working on a documentary about freethinkers in the U.S.
I have also publicized the little-known work of organized humanists in Africa. Organized humanists in Africa have worked to train and rehabilitate prostitutes, empower girls through soccer, oppose superstition through a major campaign that I helped initiate, promote Darwin Day celebrations and the teaching of evolution, etc.
There have been precious few African Americans that have taken a consistent stand in defense of evolution and against Creationism and Intelligent Design. I have done so in my articles. Similarly, in 1995, as the executive director of African Americans for Humanism(AAH), I drafted a statement in defense of evolution and against Creationism and Intelligent Design. The statement appeared in the book Voices for Evolution, published by the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), headquartered in Oakland, California. The statement was the only one in the book from a predominantly Black organization.
I have used my writings to call attention to the fact that, for a lot of reasons, many Black people are not attracted to organized skepticism. This is due to biased Eurocentric leadership, insensitivity to Black cultural traditions, etc.
From the very beginning, I have used my writings to inform people about the many great humanists of African descent whose stories are not adequately told. I have written about the fact that Black studies scholars have been just as reluctant to tell these stories as have White scholars.
I have also written about great White humanists such as the great 19th Century freethinker Robert Green Ingersoll, as well as the aforementioned Charles Darwin. Indeed, I could write an entire book on great White humanists that have made tremendous contributions to humanity in general, and to Black people in particular.
I have been particularly critical of the negative role that religion has played in the Black community. Many Black religious ministers have been divisive and reactionary. They have discouraged African Americans from voting and led people astray in many other ways.
However, I have been no less critical of African American atheists that have done likewise. For example, I have been critical of the Black Atheists of Atlanta for promoting homophobia, bad science, bad history, and even some of the worst aspects of Black religion. (Every movement has its share of crackpots, and Black non-theists are no exception.)
Moreover, I have written in defense of positive religions, such as Unitarian Universalism, the Society of Friends, Confucianism, the Bahai faith and others. I have been critical of those New Atheists that have unfairly lumped all religionists into the same category.
The Power of We is a powerful concept. Through blogs we can organize, publicize conferences and plans of action, etc. We no longer have to be in the same neighborhood, town, state or even country to organize to make a positive difference in the world. We can create a virtual sense of community, or we can use blogs to come together in real time. Whatever we want to do, blogs can make our efforts easier. Indeed, blogs can even be used to topple despotic governments.
I will continue to do my part to try to make the world a better place through my writings, and I suggest that everyone remember that, “It is within everyone’s power to do something.”