May 10, 2006
Humanism, free thought and race in America are each touchy subjects by themselves.
Last night, about two dozen people gathered at the Institute for Humanist Studies in Albany, N.Y. to discuss all three topics and view an art exhibit titled "Beyond Black History Month: Free Thought in Black America."
The month-long show features 15 original paintings by New York City artist Jocelyn Telson. Her portraits honor leaders of the African American community who were -- at the very least -- skeptical of religion. The Black American Free Thought Association (BAFTA) hosted the event in partnership with the Institute for Humanist Studies.
The portraits include patriots, artists, labor organizers, writers and scientists. While many of the figures lived during the 1920's Harlem Renaissance era, the earliest figure portrayed is Crispus Attucks, the revolutionary war hero. Attucks "...didn't want to be a Republican, a Democrat, a Conservative or a Liberal," said McKinley Jones, BAFTA president. "He wanted to be free."
From the earliest times in America, black people have had to fight for free thought, Jones said. As slaves, Africans in America were not allowed to practice their traditional religions or speak their traditional languages. These prohibitions were used by slave masters to control the thoughts of their slaves.
"All they had was each other and the shoulders of their ancestors to stand on," Jones said of early African Americans. He used the Swahili word "chambega", meaning "on the shoulders," to explain the importance of ancestors in the black community.
Although many slaves who pressed for freedom were religious, Jones said it was their human actions -- not any appeals to the supernatural -- that made it possible for black Americans to be free. Many leaders of the civil rights movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were also religious. However, it was their actions -- not their prayers – that created change. Free thought and humanism were vital to the civil rights movement. It is little known that many champions of civil rights were humanists and freethinkers, he said.
Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, A. Philip Randolph and Dr. Carter G. Woodson (originator of Negro History Week -- now Black History Month) are just a few of the freethinkers included in the art exhibit.
The display shows a progression of free thought in black culture that is oft times underrepresented or mischaracterized, explained Taunya Hannibal-Williams, BAFTA membership coordinator.
"Free thought started to develop within the black community as a necessity in trying to overthrow the oppression of slavery. But it did not come without consequences: ostracism, maybe by your own community, for causing 'trouble'; possibly being destitute; and many times being subjected to violence," Hannibal-Williams said.
Hannibal-Williams focused her remarks on black women freethinkers featured in the exhibit: Lucy Parsons, Loraine Hansberry, Zora Neale Hurston and Gwendolyn Brooks.
"...Oppression comes in many forms. Black women free thinkers had to overcome not only racist mechanisms meant to stifle them, but they also encountered sexism," she said. "You may note that although they are from different times and circumstances, these women showed a similar interest in social issues and overcoming barriers to free thought, a similarity attributed to 'humanism.'"
Touching upon black woman humanists in contemporary times, Hannibal-Williams read a quote from Whoopie Goldberg: "…what I am is humanist before anything -- before being a Jew, before I'm black, before I am a woman. And my beliefs are for the human race -- they don't exclude anyone."
She ended her talk by posing two questions: "What will the next phase of humanism look like for the black community? Will we listen to the wisdom of women?"
During a question and answer period, IHS president Larry Jones (no relation to McKinley Jones) commented on how the humanist movement is very white and very gray. Following up on Jones' remarks, Holly Nolan, executive director of the Capital District Humanist Society, asked members of BAFTA what humanist groups like hers can to do to attract more freethinkers who are black.
Leon Dukes, treasurer of the Black American Free Thought Association, said a lot of organizations and companies that are predominantly white want to attract more black members. The problem is often that "You want the body but not the mind," he said.
Dukes said that if groups really want to attract black members, they must respect what black people have to say and contribute. Hannibal-Williams also noted that a lot of organizations are already set in their ways and don't accept new voices and contributions.
"Caucasians, blacks, African Americans, whites, whatever. We have not been able to express our brotherhood. It's a sad thing when human beings separate themselves," said Ron Cuffee. "It's a fearful thing to be a freethinker."
Leon Dukes helped end the evening on a high note by singing a few traditional Negro Spirituals. Dukes told his audience that Negro Spirituals were not necessarily "spiritual" but a coded means for slaves to communicate messages about breaking for freedom.
The art exhibit "Beyond Black History Month: Free Thought in Black America" will be on display at the Institute for Humanist Studies through June 9. Please make an appointment to view the exhibit by calling (518) 432-7820 ext. 207 or by email.
The Black American Free Thought Association holds meetings every other month. For information, visit: http://www.baftahome.com
Duncan Crary is the director of communications at the Institute for Humanist Studies. He is the host of the Institute's monthly Humanist Network News podcast.
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