I am currently reading the superb 2003 book _Doubt: A History_, by Jennifer Michael Hecht. Hecht has a brief section on Black nonbelievers from the Harlem Renaissance (pp. 435-440.) I did not see this fact remarked upon by any reviewers of the book. Nor did I notice that any reviewers commented upon the Carvaka movement of India or non-belief in China, as discussed by the author. Sadly, this is not surprising. Most White scholars and intellectuals continue to be hopelessly Eurocentric.
Black Unity, Black Consciousness and Controversy
The phrase “Black Power” came to mean different things to different people. For some it meant the necessity to use violent means to end oppression. To others it meant Black economic and political empowerment. To others it meant Black self- empowerment through the development of pride, the learning of history and the raising of consciousness. To some it meant all three and more.
Breaking the Spell – A Book Review
Ten years ago Dennett came out with this bestseller. He was primarily concerned with demolishing two ideas that seemingly cast a spell among most human beings. The first spell is the taboo that forbids investigation into religion. The second spell is religion per se, or more to the point, the idea that such an examination into religion could sweep it away, along with its positive attributes, thus leaving the world worse than it is.
On Hypocrisy and Double Standards
Everyone is a hypocrite. We all say one thing and do the opposite. However, it is one thing to teach your children not to smoke while smoking yourself. After all, that is just looking out for your child’s best interests. However, it is something else entirely to criticize people for supporting murderous regimes while you support murderous regimes in the name of democracy, liberty, patriotism, and so on.