Over the past several decades, there has been increased attention to disbelief within African American communities. The growth in the percentage of the African American population labeled “nones” made this attention unavoidable. However, while statistical information has made it easier to identify African American disbelief in general and African American humanism in particular, what is captured by the label African American humanism—or more popularly Black humanism—has received less attention. Is it a political movement? A social movement? Drawing on his new book—The Black Practice of Disbelief—Anthony Pinn explores what we might learn about the beliefs and practices of humanism in African American communities by examining it as a new religion.
This event will take place at the Washington Ethical Society in Washington, DC and will also be streamed on Zoom. Doors open for the event at 6:30pm ET for people attending in-person, with the full program beginning at 7:00pm ET for virtual attendees. For in-person attendees, there will be a book signing and reception to begin at 8:00pm ET.
Register for in-person or virtual attendance here
Event Details
Hybrid in-person & virtual event
Thursday, June 20, 7:00pm Eastern (6:30pm doors)
Washington Ethical Society
7750 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20012
Register for in-person or virtual attendance here
Speaker
Dr. Anthony Pinn is Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Rice University, where he directs the Center for African and African American Studies as well as the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning. He is also the Director of Research for the Institute for Humanist Studies.
Pinn is the author/editor of over 30 books, including numerous volumes related to African American humanism. His latest out in May 2024 is The Black Practice of Disbelief: An Introduction to the Principles, History, and Communities of Black Nonbelievers. He is also the editor of four book series, including Studies in Humanist Thought and Praxis.
Pinn is the leading scholar of African American humanism, and his research and teaching in this area has been recognized by awards including the 1999 African American Humanist Award from the Council for Secular Humanism, the 2006 Harvard University Humanist Chaplaincy “Humanist of the Year”, the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association Humanist of the Year (2017), and Freedom from Religion Foundation “The Emperor Has No Clothes Award (2019).