Think We Atheists Are Misunderstood and Persecuted?
Try Being a Black Atheist in Harlem


He’s tall and muscular, with a deep, booming voice that would carry over the pews of any church in Harlem. The only thing is, he’s an atheist. And in Harlem, known for having “ churches on every street,” being an atheist is as close to being Satan himself as you can get. Old ladies hit him with their purses. “You will have your race card revoked,” he says, only half joking.


Sibanye—the name means “we as one” in Swahili—is the Harlem coordinator for the Center for Inquiry (CFI), a 30-year-old atheist organization based in Amherst, NY. For five years, he has held a discussion group in Harlem on the last Sunday of each month. About 20-25 people usually come, about a third of them white.


The white people come to the Harlem meetings because the Sibanye-led discussions/debate are or spirited and engaging. Sibanye will tackle anything from politics to Obama to, no doubt, Michael Jackson. He researches everything meticulously, involves every person present (advance reading material is provided) and nothing is verboten. Going to a Sibanye discussion in Harlem is an intellectual and emotional workout.

Good, Bad & Ugly


On Sunday, July 12, Sibanye will speak to New York City Atheists at our Brunch on Race and Religion--what it’s like to be an atheist organizer in super-religious Harlem in particular and the Black community in general—or as he puts it, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Black Religious convictions.”
He admits that taking religion away from Harlemites would leave a vacuum. The churches provide a sense of community and brotherhood. “We have to replace it with something—a sense of political unity would be ideal.”


And there are deep-rooted roadblocks to dialogue in Harlem. “Black people still go into shock when you tell them that there is no god. That’s a touchy subject,” he notes.


Let’s Show Our Support


Sibanye, 50, was born in St. Louis, came to New York via Chicago, where he worked developing an academically inspiring curriculum for Black and Hispanic males. He also lived in South Africa for six months in the 90s, after Nelson Mandela was elected, to work on developing its educational system, but came back to the U.S. when he realized it was going to be a long, uphill struggle and, also, he needed a cochlear implant to regain his late-onset hearing loss. Today, when he’s not proselytizing for atheism, he works as a computer programmer.


Come Sunday to hear this dramatic Black atheist, who seems dauntless in taking on difficult tasks. Lets show our support to the Black atheist community, small as it is; let’s join them in atheist brotherhood!


EVENT SUMMARY


WHAT: “Race and Religion—The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” a talk
by Sibanye, Harlem Coordinator for CFI.


WHEN: Sunday, July 12, 2009
12 PM


WHERE: Press Box Restaurant and Pub
932 Second Ave. (bet. 49th & 50th Sts.)
Second floor


COST: Brunch, $20 (includes selection of buffet entrees and salad, one
Soft drink, coffee, tax, tip) Going back for seconds on their
delicious Eggs Benedict is expected!