Ask Mandisa 35 – Trips, Awards, and Summer

by | October 16, 2019

By Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Mandisa Thomas, a native of New York City, is the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. Although never formally indoctrinated into belief, Mandisa was heavily exposed to Christianity, Black Nationalism, and Islam. As a child she loved reading, and enjoyed various tales of Gods from different cultures, including Greek and Ghanaian. “Through reading these stories and being taught about other cultures at an early age, I quickly noticed that there were similarities and differences between those deities and the God of the Christian Bible. I couldn’t help but wonder what made this God so special that he warrants such prevalence today,” she recalls.

Mandisa has many media appearances to her credit, including CBS Sunday Morning, CNN.com, and Playboy, The Humanist, and JET magazines. She has been a guest on podcasts such as The Humanist Hour and Ask an Atheist, as well as the documentaries Contradiction and My Week in Atheism. Mandisa currently serves on the Board for American Atheists and the American Humanist Association, and previously for Foundation Beyond Belief, the 2016 Reason Rally Coalition, and the Secular Coalition for America. She is also an active speaker and has presented at conferences/conventions for the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Secular Student Alliance, and many others.

In 2019, Mandisa was the recipient of the Secular Student Alliance’s Backbone Award and named the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s Freethought Heroine. She was also the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association’s Person of the Year 2018.

As the president of Black Nonbelievers, Inc., Mandisa encourages more Blacks to come out and stand strong with their nonbelief in the face of such strong religious overtones.

“The more we make our presence known, the better our chances of working together to turn around some of the disparities we face. We are NOT alone.”

Here, we talk about trips, awards, and the summer.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: You have some upcoming events and associated travels. You have some award nominations and notifications. What are some of the trips? What are some of the awards? And why are those important to put a stamp on for the summer?

Mandisa Thomas: Yes. The first is the annual Secular Student Alliance Conference, which is taking place in Los Angeles, July 12th through 14th. I was chosen as their Backbone Award recipient for 2019. It’s very exciting. I wasn’t expecting it, but it was an honor to be chosen.

In October this year, I will also be presented with the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Freethought Heroine Award for 2019. I was informed of this last year on their website, so it’s no secret. It was just announced on the 9th of July.

And next year, I will be receiving the Irving & Annabel Wolfson Award, which is presented by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Worcester, Massachusetts. They called to ask if I would accept the award, and I said yes.

For me, it feels a little weird, because I did not get involved in the movement to receive awards. But they ARE nice, like last year I was chosen by the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association as their ‘Person of the Year.’I just feel like what I’m doing what is necessary. But it’s an honor when people see the work and they want to recognize it. It is much appreciated.

Jacobsen: What is the feeling?

Mandisa: As I said, it feels weird, and I actually get a little nervous. I’m so emotional, so I start crying. I always think “Wow, what did I do to deserve this?”. I KNOW that it’s warranted, but then I also start feeling as if I’m bragging too much. So yeah, there’s that, lol.

Jacobsen: What comes to mind when you’re recognized as one of the premier community organizers in the secular communities?

Mandisa: For me, there’s a bit of pressure. Because once you are recognized, it’s nice to know that people are starting to see you and see your work.

But the expectation for me only gets more intense. And the recognition and the acknowledgement, while some of them do come with additional incentives, ultimately I start thinking that the expectations that come along with them far outweigh the special benefits.

It’s always a reality check in my eyes.I’m always up for new challenges and new bridges to cross. But it CAN at times be overwhelming, especially when I am still building my profile in the movement. And to a point where it’s more than a volunteer basis. 

There was an opportunity for me to acquire a paid position for which I was passed over. While the awards are nice,it only sets the bar higher because at this point; there needs to be a way that I can be fully employed in this movement, especially with the recognition I’m getting for the work.

There’s always the “What’s next, then?” “What do I need to continue to do?” and “How do I make this work?” Not just for me, but also for the organization.

Jacobsen: Statistically, within the secular movements and communities, there are few women of colour. In addition, statistically, in the United States, you’ll find a few women of colour who identify “secular.” As someone receiving all these awards, does this amplify the sensibility of responsibility, pressure, and so on?

Mandisa: It does amplify the pressure and responsibility for sure. However, we’ve accepted those things when we got started, so we’ll just need to press on.

So I think the recognition solidifies what we’ve been doing for the past eight years. There are more of us out here. There will continue to be more of us coming up. We are becoming more visible.

I think perhaps the pressure will also be on the other organizations to really start recognizing the work that we’re doing. Some of them who have created their own awards have been around for some time, and have a more solid foundation, which is understandable and respected.

However, we hope to gain enough support to give our own recognition in the future. And we’d like to get to the point where we are able to recognize the women of color who are doing the work that is necessary, and for the movement to understand and sufficiently see that while by far, I am among the most visible, it isn’t just me out there.

It is NEVER just about me. That’s something that I always try to make clear whenever I speak, especially when I am speaking on behalf of the recognition that I’m given. So, there’s isn’t just pressure, there’s more stepping up to challenges that we’re working on. Hopefully, the recognition will continue for more people of color in this movement.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Mandisa.

Mandisa: Thank you.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Founder of In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal and In-Sight Publishing. He authored/co-authored some e-booksfree or low-cost. If you want to contact Scott: Scott.D.Jacobsen@Gmail.com.

Canadian Atheist Associates: Godless Mom, Nice Mangoes, Sandwalk, Brainstorm Podcast, Left at the Valley, Life, the Universe & Everything Else, The Reality Check, Bad Science Watch, British Columbia Humanist Association, Dying With Dignity Canada, Canadian Secular AllianceCentre for Inquiry CanadaKelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association.

Other National/Local Resources: Association humaniste du QuébecAtheist FreethinkersCentral Ontario Humanist AssociationComox Valley HumanistsGrey Bruce HumanistsHalton-Peel Humanist CommunityHamilton HumanistsHumanist Association of LondonHumanist Association of OttawaHumanist Association of TorontoHumanists, Atheists and Agnostics of ManitobaOntario Humanist SocietySecular Connextions SeculaireSecular Humanists in CalgarySociety of Free Thinkers (Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge/Guelph)Thunder Bay HumanistsToronto OasisVictoria Secular Humanist Association.

Other International/Outside Canada Resources: Allianz vun Humanisten, Atheisten an AgnostikerAmerican Atheists,American Humanist AssociationAssociação Brasileira de Ateus e AgnósticoséééBrazilian Association of Atheists and AgnosticsAtheist Alliance InternationalAtheist Alliance of AmericaAtheist CentreAtheist Foundation of AustraliaThe Brights MovementCenter for Inquiry (including Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science), Atheist IrelandCamp Quest, Inc.Council for Secular HumanismDe Vrije GedachteEuropean Humanist FederationFederation of Indian Rationalist AssociationsFoundation Beyond BeliefFreedom From Religion FoundationHumanist Association of IrelandHumanist InternationalHumanist Association of GermanyHumanist Association of IrelandHumanist Society of ScotlandHumanists UKHumanisterna/Humanists SwedenInternet InfidelsInternational League of Non-Religious and AtheistsJames Randi Educational FoundationLeague of Militant AtheistsMilitary Association of Atheists and FreethinkersNational Secular SocietyRationalist InternationalRecovering From ReligionReligion News ServiceSecular Coalition for AmericaSecular Student AllianceThe Clergy ProjectThe Rational Response SquadThe Satanic TempleThe Sunday AssemblyUnited Coalition of ReasonUnion of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.

Photo by Ming Jun Tan on Unsplash

One thought on “Ask Mandisa 35 – Trips, Awards, and Summer

  1. Tim Underwood

    I just voted for a Candidate who’s Party leader is in a racial minority. Our local candidate is not from a racial minority and she has served us well in the past. I almost didn’t vote for her because of her Party’s leader who flaunts his inherited religious practices. This has nothing to do with his race. I wouldn’t like supporting a candidate who would flaunt his Evangelical Christian convictions nor should I support a leader who flaunts his Sikh convictions. I would happily support an ex-Evangelical or an ex-Sikh that supported my political aspirations, which are the more secular defensible ideas.

    Reply

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