Black, atheist and unapologetic: the rise of secularism in African American communities

More Black people are leaving religion, challenging tradition and redefining community

In 2015, Mandisa Thomas faced a harrowing confrontation while tabling for Black Nonbelievers Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and increasing visibility for Black atheists. The event, hosted by the Atheist Alliance of America, coincided with the Women of Color and Ministries Conference in the same hotel.

There was one Black woman in particular who came up to our table," Thomas recalls. She became very belligerent, even though I was polite to her. She told me that she could not believe I had the nerve to identify as an atheist in front of white devils. She said I had a slave mentality and that she was going to bathe me in the blood of Jesus. She [said she] felt sorry for my mama and my kids. It was just absolutely mind-boggling."