33:
287:“events that culminated horribly” during a cruise and conference attended shortly before by members of Black Nonbelievers. Thomas stated that during the conference she had mishandled a “personal situation” and that she had “acknowledged my responsibility for how it had been handled,” adding “I apologized to some individuals and took corrective action for the rest of the cruise.”
294:
released the following statement: “The Board of
Directors of the American Humanist Association received a communication on behalf of an AHA chapter with concerns regarding Mandisa Thomas, a member of the AHA Board. The AHA Board has discussed the information provided and has resolved to look into the
253:
Thomas founded Black
Nonbelievers, Inc. in 2011, as a non-profit, secular fellowship. Its goals include eliminating stigma, increasing visibility, and providing support and networking opportunities around non-belief in the African-American community. The organization's leadership is mostly female,
302:
Board
Chairperson Jennifer Scott announced that the board had “been made aware of concerns raised in a public letter by former members and affiliates of Black Nonbelievers regarding the conduct of” Thomas, and that “In keeping with our internal policies, our board ethics committee and members of
286:
On
December 5, 2022, leaders from five chapters of Black Nonbelievers (chapters in Detroit, Louisville in Kentucky, Portland in Oregon, New York, and Washington, D.C.) put out a statement saying they were ending their involvement with Thomas and with Black Nonbelievers. The statement mentioned
307:
Board of
Directors that I would be taking time to focus on my work at Black Nonbelievers and resigning from my position on the board. It has been an honor to serve as a member of this organization’s board and to collaborate so closely with these amazing activists — and friends — who work so
158:. That same year she organized the Blackout Secular Rally in New York, the United States' first outdoor event headlined by nontheists of color, and the first secular rally celebrating racial diversity. She credits Ayanna Watson with helping develop the idea after the success of the 2012
295:
matter completely and thoroughly in line with the values of our organization. As the Board considers the matter, Mandisa has taken a leave of absence and withdrawn from all responsibilities at the AHA, including participation in the AHA Board, with immediate effect.”
410:
842:
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leadership have begun the process of reaching out to those individuals and to Ms. Thomas.” On
January 11, 2023, Thomas released the following statement: “After careful thought and consideration, I have informed my colleagues on the
366:
960:
273:
In March 2018, in order to devote herself full-time to activism within Black
Nonbelievers and the broader secular community, Thomas resigned from her full-time position as event services manager at the
993:
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Thomas's upbringing was in a nonreligious, single-parent household, but she describes her grandmother as "staunchly religious". At the age of twenty-one, Thomas moved with her husband to
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She considers religion, and
Christianity in particular, to have been ingrained into the African-American identity by force.
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143:, where cultural factors made it difficult to lead a secular life. This experience led her to found Black Nonbelievers.
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representation, and it has chapters in ten U.S. cities. It partners with other secular organizations including
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1140:"Secular Student Life Podcast - Unique Challenges for Black Nonbelievers with Mandisa Thomas"
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1080:"Statement from American Atheists Board Chair Regarding Board Member Mandisa Thomas"
1047:"Black atheist leaders quit Black Nonbelievers over alleged misconduct by president"
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Thomas and her husband, also an atheist, have three children and reside in suburban
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conferences and events, and has promoted the group's agenda in media outlets.
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177:, proclaiming October 15, 2017 as the 16th annual celebration of California
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is the founder and president of Black
Nonbelievers Inc. She has spoken at
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359:"Every Day Is Sunday: As atheism rises, nonbelievers find one another"
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Humanist
Association named Thomas its Person of the Year. In 2019 the
984:"Five Fierce Humanists: Unapologetically Black Women Beyond Belief"
184:
Thomas has made interview appearances in media outlets including
1110:"Mandisa Thomas to Receive UU Humanist Person of the Year Award"
255:
1016:"Black Nonbelievers , Inc. : Walking by sight, NOT Faith!"
897:
222:
196:
841:. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Event occurs at 25:26.
641:"2013 National Convention Speakers | American Atheists"
400:"Black Atheists, White Santas, And A Feast For The Deceased"
510:"Atlanta Atheist Wants To Erase Stigma In Black Community"
211:
program. She has been profiled in publications including
953:"BUSINESS INFORMATION: BLACK NONBELIEVERS, INCORPORATED"
671:"Blackout Secular Rally: Atheism Makes Minority Inroads"
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tirelessly to advance the cause of atheism in America.”
1095:"Joint Statement Regarding Changes in Board Membership"
614:
612:
610:
432:
430:
428:
221:, and has written opinion pieces for outlets including
476:. No. April 30, 2012. p. 36. Archived from
442:
Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions
787:"The challenges facing atheists in the U.S. (video)"
696:"Blackout Secular Rally: An Organizer's Perspective"
619:
Holland, J.W. (July 1, 2018). "Among the Atheists".
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643:. Atheists.org. October 31, 2013. Archived from
154:Thomas spoke at the 2013 National Convention of
16:Founder and president of Black Nonbelievers Inc.
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748:"Bill Text – SCR-79 California Freethought Day"
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580:O'Hayer, Dennis; Scott, Rose (July 13, 2015).
444:. New York: Penguin Group. pp. 117–119.
8:
777:
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722:"BLACKOUT, an Interview with Mandisa Thomas"
165:In 2017, Thomas was recognized by name in a
67:Queens College, City University of New York
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276:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
20:
1078:American Atheists (December 19, 2022).
1061:"AHA Board Statement on Mandisa Thomas"
832:"Freethought Radio: Black Nonbelievers"
349:
324:presented her with its Backbone Award.
290:On December 16, 2022, the board of the
1120:from the original on September 3, 2018
1093:American Atheists (January 11, 2023).
1026:from the original on December 26, 2017
982:Cameron, Christopher (June 19, 2018).
963:from the original on December 28, 2017
908:from the original on December 26, 2017
878:from the original on December 26, 2017
797:from the original on December 25, 2017
702:from the original on December 25, 2017
595:from the original on December 25, 2017
556:from the original on December 25, 2017
520:from the original on December 25, 2017
369:from the original on December 25, 2017
754:. State of California. Archived from
413:from the original on October 17, 2018
169:(SCR-79) introduced by state Senator
7:
1229:20th-century African-American people
1189:21st-century African-American people
1146:from the original on August 27, 2019
996:from the original on August 10, 2018
508:Erdman, Shelby Lin (July 13, 2015).
365:. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
1045:Smietana, Bob (December 20, 2022).
845:from the original on March 29, 2018
698:. Thehumanist.com. August 7, 2013.
752:California Legislative Information
544:Thomas, Mandisa (March 28, 2015).
206:Freedom From Religion Foundation's
14:
728:from the original on May 5, 2016
724:. Secular Woman. July 19, 2013.
546:"Confessions of a black atheist"
470:"5 Things About: Mandisa Thomas"
282:Alleged misconduct and aftermath
268:Freedom From Religion Foundation
105:
31:
1020:blacknonbelievers.wordpress.com
992:. No. July / August 2018.
625:. No. July / August 2018.
233:, as well as the documentaries
468:Kyles, Kira (April 30, 2012).
260:African Americans for Humanism
225:. Her acting credits include
1:
1108:Justin Jagoe (May 11, 2018).
1065:American Humanist Association
292:American Humanist Association
1219:People from Morrow, Georgia
1214:People from Jamaica, Queens
1022:. Black Nonbelievers, Inc.
1245:
1204:American atheism activists
1194:African-American activists
298:On December 19, 2022, the
1199:African-American atheists
135:Early life and background
93:
48:Jamaica, Queens, New York
30:
1169:Black Nonbelievers, Inc.
322:Secular Student Alliance
793:. CBS Interactive Inc.
396:Meraji, Shereen Marisol
175:California State Senate
125:Mandisa Lateefah Thomas
101:Voice of Mandisa Thomas
318:Unitarian Universalist
278:'s conference center.
898:"Racial Taboo – Cast"
398:(December 20, 2017).
173:, and adopted by the
1067:. December 16, 2022.
758:on December 26, 2017
824:Annie Laurie Gaylor
627:Playboy Enterprises
229:Mythicist Milwaukee
932:experience.umn.edu
904:. Brill Branding.
830:(March 22, 2018).
249:Black Nonbelievers
243:My Week in Atheism
647:on April 29, 2015
589:WABE: Closer Look
480:on April 15, 2015
451:978-1-59420-508-8
357:Poole, Shelia M.
312:Awards and honors
305:American Atheists
300:American Atheists
209:Freethought Radio
204:podcast, and the
156:American Atheists
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81:Years active
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582:"Closer Look"
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316:In 2018, the
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1148:. Retrieved
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1030:December 26,
1028:. Retrieved
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998:. Retrieved
989:The Humanist
987:
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967:December 29,
965:. Retrieved
956:
947:
935:. Retrieved
931:
922:
912:December 26,
910:. Retrieved
902:Racial Taboo
901:
892:
882:December 26,
880:. Retrieved
871:
847:. Retrieved
838:
799:. Retrieved
790:
762:December 26,
760:. Retrieved
756:the original
751:
742:
730:. Retrieved
716:
704:. Retrieved
690:
680:December 29,
678:. Retrieved
674:
667:Niose, David
661:
649:. Retrieved
645:the original
635:
620:
599:December 25,
597:. Retrieved
588:
558:. Retrieved
549:
522:. Retrieved
514:90.1 FM WABE
513:
484:December 24,
482:. Retrieved
478:the original
473:
441:
417:December 23,
415:. Retrieved
406:
371:. Retrieved
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297:
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272:
252:
242:
241:(2013), and
239:Racial Taboo
238:
234:
226:
214:Jet magazine
213:
199:
192:
183:
164:
160:Reason Rally
153:
145:
138:
124:
123:
84:2011–present
18:
1184:1976 births
1124:October 17,
937:January 26,
801:December 7,
524:December 7,
392:Demby, Gene
373:December 7,
201:Code Switch
193:Closer Look
171:Richard Pan
55:Citizenship
1178:Categories
1150:August 27,
1000:August 10,
957:sos.ga.gov
839:libsyn.com
828:Dan Barker
344:References
73:Occupation
959:. ECORP.
849:March 29,
783:Rocca, Mo
732:April 15,
706:April 15,
651:April 15,
560:April 15,
1144:Archived
1118:Archived
1024:Archived
994:Archived
961:Archived
906:Archived
876:Archived
843:Archived
795:Archived
791:CBS News
726:Archived
700:Archived
593:Archived
554:Archived
518:Archived
411:Archived
367:Archived
266:and the
245:(2014).
237:(2013),
186:CBS News
150:Activism
76:activist
58:American
622:Playboy
409:. NPR.
338:Georgia
334:Atlanta
219:Playboy
141:Atlanta
129:secular
448:
835:(mp3)
585:(MP3)
403:(MP3)
363:myAJC
256:LGBTQ
197:NPR's
89:Notes
1152:2019
1126:2018
1032:2017
1002:2018
969:2017
939:2019
914:2017
884:2017
872:IMDb
851:2018
803:2017
764:2017
734:2015
708:2015
682:2017
653:2015
601:2017
562:2015
526:2017
486:2017
446:ISBN
419:2017
375:2017
231:Show
227:The
217:and
167:bill
43:Born
550:CNN
474:Jet
223:CNN
195:,,
1180::
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874:.
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