Which I couldn’t give two shits about.

The problem I have with them having so much hatred towards me because of it, is because they’re trying to shut me up and keep me quiet. They’re calling family members, discussing my atheism among themselves, but they can’t pick up that same fucking phone and call me. Pure cowardice if you ask me.

I didn’t come out as an atheist because I hate god. I didn’t come out because my prayers weren’t answered. I didn’t come out as an atheist out of spite towards my family. I came out as an atheist because I was sick and tired of lying to myself and people around me who I truly am inside.

It’s not like I had much to lose when I did. My family is the epitome of ‘dysfunctional’ and it’s been that way long before I was thought of.

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be when I finally came out. My family was mad, my cousins disowned me, my little brother hates me, but I came out of it pretty much unscathed. A lot of Black atheists can’t say the same I’m sure. It’s the social idealism that all black people are religious. Who could blame them? It’s like every race besides blacks know that the very bible they make gospel videos about on BET is the very same bible used to enslave their ancestors. They hate it when I bring up that fact.

According to a Pew poll, black Americans are more likely than members of any other racial or ethnic group in the country to report a formal religious affiliation. And even among those who didn’t select a particular religion in that survey, three out of four identified as “religious unaffiliated” (meaning they didn’t choose a denomination but said religion was either somewhat or very important in their lives). That’s compared with slightly more than one-third of the unaffiliated population overall. -Pew Poll

It’s like they cover their ears while singing “La-la-la, I can’t hear you!”

Black women are the single most religious demographic in the country. – Journalist Jamila Bey

For awhile, I was like that to myself. I was telling myself that me being an atheist won’t do me any favors. It was when I got sick and fucking tired of people assuming that I was a christian all because I was black. So I simply start telling people that everyone isn’t a Christian, so don’t be so closed-minded. They were shocked, of course. A black woman that’s an atheist? They almost hurled shoes at me at one point. It wasn’t going to change who I am.

The fact that I’m a black atheist woman is a shock to most people in my atheist social group. Again, it’s that social idealism that people have of black people. Then there’s BET with their gospel shows that air every fucking Sunday and sometimes throughout the week; especially if it’s the gospel awards. It also doesn’t help that Tyler Perry isn’t making it any better. He’s the poster child for Christianity massaging in the black community. I can’t think of one of his works where god wasn’t heavily sprinkled all over it.

So add that and that America is a predominantly Christian country and you have what I call ‘A Brainwashed Nation’.

“We’re everywhere.There are a whole lot of us who are not going to nod and amen our way through things. So many of us are putting an end to that unfortunate practice. Everyone’s soon going to know us.” -Jamila Bey

I didn’t come out sooner than I did because then, I was a child. Then, I was afraid of getting my ass beat and then ousted from the family for good. I felt no matter how hard I try to get my family’s approval, them knowing I didn’t believe the same thing they did, it wouldn’t have been enough for them.

So, now that I’m out and beating my chest and baring my teeth; showing aggression against anyone who wants to shut me up, I’ll be damned if I turn around and be quieted down because a few family members hate that I’m an outspoken atheist. I’m not going to shut up for them. They didn’t show me the same respect when they were still trying to shove that religious shit down my throat after they found out, so fuck them.

Any black atheists out there that haven’t come out, yet. Please know that you’re not cowards, but don’t be afraid to stand firm. When you do decide to come out to whomever is in your life, know that there are groups and pages like mine that are willing to support you the best way we can. When you come out, you do this not just for yourself. You do it for the entire community. Your courage will give other atheists courage. Christians are bullies and I can say that with experience.

To my cousin Louis Clark who is the one who was on the phone with my grandmother a couple of days ago expressing his distaste of my atheism to my grandmother. If you happen to come across this blog, I would like to say, FUCK YOU very much. I’m not kissing you or anyone else’s ass because you’re butt-hurt about my life-choices. The only reason you even called my grandmother is because you feel threatened and you’re unsure about your beliefs. Running to my grandmother makes you a coward and I have no room for them in my life. So you can stay where you are; in Florida with wife #3. The bible has something in there about that, but I’m sure you didn’t know that.

It is a shame that so many black Americans are shackled with the religion that was imposed onto black slaves by their christian masters. The Bible taught that slavery was good and that slaves should obey their masters and that rewards would come in the (mythical) next life. Completing the emancipation process should include outgrowing the chains of Christianity and instead embracing freedom and reality.

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