Response from Allies of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. and Mandisa Thomas on Allegations of Unethical Behaviors

Kellie King–Chapter Director, BN of Detroit 

Tina Marshall–Chapter Director, BN of Charlotte 

Cynthia McDonald–Chapter Director, BN of Chicago 

Charone Pagett–Collaborator and Affiliate 

Deana Williams–BN Board Member

Introduction

    We, the writers of this report, as allies of Mandisa Thomas and Black Nonbelievers, Inc. (BN) intend to give a fuller, more complete, evidence-based version of events leading up to the cruise, the conflict on the cruise, and the post-cruise fallout. We are of the opinion that some people in the non-believing community have responded to these allegations in a way that demonstrates that, at best, they did not fully think through these claims and evidence. At worst, they did not care to engage in the intellectual process required to overcome the salacious nature of the former organizers’ materials. Throughout this report, the reader will find many questions designed to foster increased reflection on the matters at hand. It is our hope that with this new information the reader will ignite their skepticism and gain a new perspective on all the circumstances surrounding the former organizers’ departure from BN and clear up confusion this might have created within the community. 

    On December 5, 2022, five former (BN) affiliate leaders posted on social media that they were breaking ties with BN founder and president, Mandisa Thomas, “citing issues with pattern and practice.” It was not until seven weeks later that they detailed the specifics of their concerns in an OnlySky article published by one of the former leaders on January 25, 2023. The article linked to a Google drive that included a variety of documents, personal statements, and text screenshots that were supposed to be the evidence to support their decision to separate. One of the documents included was “BNDC Incident Report: Preliminary Findings (Cumulative) 2015-December 2022,” (Incident Report) which details nine incidents alleging to illustrate the “patterns and practices” that facilitated their departure. This statement is a response to those allegations and the so-called evidence presented with them. 

    We are five leaders and affiliates who have worked closely with BN and Mandisa Thomas for many years. As such, we feel invested in ensuring the health and growth of this important organization. 

    In this response, we refrain from identifying most individuals involved. We identify one person by name as she held a significant executive position in the BN organization (vice president) and is considered by many to be the impetus behind the fallout from the cruise. We chose to withhold screenshots of text conversations provided to us during the course of preparing this report to protect privacy. However, we do include some written statements. We tried to avoid attacking people, choosing instead to focus on the facts and evidence before us, despite the fact that this same courtesy has not been extended to Mandisa or her allies. Finally, Mandisa was not involved in the writing of this report and she was not given an advanced copy. However, she was interviewed 1 extensively about each of the items discussed and provided documentation to support her defense.

    The primary driving force behind this document is a commitment to critical thought and skepticism. It is our opinion that much of the material presented against Mandisa does not stand up against critical examination. Despite this, many in the community have failed to apply basic tenets of humanist, atheist, secular, and freethought principles pertaining to the search for truth and intellectual honesty. As a result, we aim to provide detailed rebuttals to the complaints levied against Mandisa.

Report Authors

Kellie King: I met Mandisa Thomas in 2020 when I attended the Women of Color Beyond Belief conference. The original plan was for me to assist Bridgett Crutchfield-Raglin in leading the Detroit affiliate group. However, after leaving last year's cruise ship, Bridgett announced she and other affiliates were exiting. So, January of this year, Mandisa appointed me lead affiliate of the Detroit chapter which I changed to Metro Detroit. 

Tina Marshall: I'm Tina Marshall, founder and lead for Black Nonbelievers of Charlotte, and participant in BN SeaCon 2022. I am a longtime collaborator with Mandisa and have participated in many BN events, including Women of Color Beyond Belief.

 

Cynthia McDonald: I am Cynthia McDonald and I am the lead affiliate organizer for the Chicago chapter. I have been working with Mandisa and Black Nonbelievers since 2020. I've spoken at Women of Color Beyond Belief in 2021 and 2022, worked on YouTube shows with Mandisa, and I attended the BN SeaCon in 2022.

 

Charone Pagett: I am one of the founding members of BN Atlanta and watched it grow to became Black Nonbelievers, Inc and continue to be a regular collaborator and advisor of Mandisa’s. I understand that the earliest missions of the organization were to provide social support to the black non-believing community. I have participated in many events such as the SeaCons, Women of Color Beyond Belief conferences, and BN anniversary events. I was on the 2022 BN SeaCon.

 

Deana Williams: My name is Deana Williams. When I came out as an atheist, I realized I didn’t know a single black atheist until I found Mandisa Thomas and Black Nonbelievers. I am associated with this response letter because I was aboard the Carnival Spirit during BN SeaCon 2022 and have since joined the BN Board of Directors in 2023

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    In the conclusion of the former organizers’ report, they include a list that summarizes their complaints. This report addresses each of these concerns in great detail in a point-by-point manner. In general, the findings suggest that the former organizers did not conduct a full, unbiased investigation to support their allegations and provide little concrete evidence that adequately proves the various points they want to make. At best, they failed to uncover important facts about the people and situations in their reports, articles, and social media posts. At worst, they intentionally crafted a skewed narrative with the goal of ruining Mandisa’s reputation and destroying BN through a scorched earth campaign. Actions such as publishing all of their investigative materials in a public forum, repeatedly emailing movement leaders pushing these narratives, and cutting off ties with allies of Mandisa suggest that this scorched earth approach was the plan all along. The primary goal of this report is to provide nuance, color, evidence, and detail to the narrative that has been advanced. Below are the former organizers’ primary complaints according to their report and a brief response to each. 

• Mandisa allegedly “routinely blurred personal and professional lines with both organizers and members concerning detailed sexual histories.” 

• Mandisa thought she was confiding in friends. These people even referred to Mandisa as friend and sister. It is not unreasonable to think that Mandisa would be open and vulnerable with people she considers her friends. This report provides text message examples and testimonies as to the friendship quality of Mandisa’s relationships with her former organizers.

• Mandisa allegedly “promoted consensual sexual interaction(s) of two or more members at official events (e.g. BNSeaCon).” 

•  The key word here is “consensual.” It was consensual and therefore no one else’s business. Period. This report highlights the many statements from the former organizers’ own materials that demonstrate this fact. This report also challenges the misogynoir and slut-shaming that is at the heart of this complaint.

•  Mandisa allegedly “misappropriated organizational resources to facilitate or engage in consensual interactions with BN member(s).” 

•  There was no evidence of true misappropriation presented in the former organizers’ materials. Mandisa was accused of misappropriating funds by having sex in a hotel room paid for by someone other than herself. As a speaker at the conference, she had a legitimate reason not related to her 4 sex life to be in the room. Whatever else may have happened during her private time is no one else’s business. This statement challenges the assertion that Mandisa misappropriated funds during that conference. 

•  Mandisa allegedly “manipulated key narratives to gain loyalties and leverage collegial support for desired personal outcome(s) among members and organizers.” 

•  The former organizers claim to have been harassed and traumatized by Mandisa’s tendency to talk about her personal affairs among friends. They allege that she is actually trying to gain control over these people and coerce them into doing her bidding. However, at no time do the former organizers demonstrate that Mandisa was trying to control them. This report highlights examples from the former organizers’ own statements demonstrating the friendly nature of their relationships with Mandisa.

• Mandisa allegedly “arbitrarily expelled members from the organization and its events without board or leadership review.”

•  There is no operating formal membership structure within BN short of joining a Facebook group, Meetup group, or attending an event. As such, there was no framework for how to deal with disruptive members. This report highlights details within the former organizers’ own materials and presents new evidence that contradicts this statement.

• Mandisa allegedly “provide[d] a ‘safe and nurturing space for Black people without faith and leaving religion’ contingent upon adherence to romantic dynamics favorable to Mrs. Thomas.”

• There were no examples given to suggest that Mandisa required sexual partners to remain sexual partners or risk being kicked out of BN. There is only one known former lover who was removed from the BN Facebook 5 group and it was clearly for reasons related to his own unethical behaviors. This report presents evidence that demonstrates that Mandisa had a reasonable justification for taking the action she did. 

•  Mandisa allegedly “neglected to publish or implement quarterly reviews of organizational health and sustainability for BNDC affiliate members and organizers.” 

• Mandisa does not deny this. However, this does not mean she was not willing to make these available upon request. None of the former organizers, including the former vice president, report having ever confronted her about this fact. As directors and legal fiduciaries, it was just as much incumbent upon them to make sure these essentials were in place. The former organizers do not demonstrate that they made any good faith attempts to obtain this information prior to their departure.

• Mandisa allegedly “neglected publishing or implementing method(s) of impartial review for grievances among leaders and members.”

• Mandisa does not deny this. (See previous bullet point) The former organizers do not demonstrate that they made any good faith attempts to obtain this information prior to their departure. 
•  Mandisa allegedly “neglected publishing or implementing means of financial transparency and review to board or organizers.”

•  Mandisa does not deny this. (See previous bullet point) The former organizers do not demonstrate that they made any good faith attempts to obtain this information prior to their departure. 

• Mandisa allegedly “fail[ed] to heed advice from organizers regarding public confrontation of BN member(s) and associates on private relationships between Mrs. Thomas and a BN member.” 

•  The Incident Report and other statements refer to only one known instance in which one of the former organizers and Charone Pagett counseled Mandisa against confronting the member/speaker prior to the actual confrontation. They do not demonstrate that there was some sort of intervention staged by all of the former organizers as this statement implies. Rather, they report that they met with Mandisa after the incident and reprimanded her as a group. This report details the timeline of the former organizers’ actions regarding the cruise and the resulting fallout.

Issue #1: Mandisa Thomas’ behavior on the 2022 BN SeaCon cruise 

Summary: According to various sources of information released by the former BN leaders, Mandisa Thomas’ behavior toward two of the SeaCon speakers was so outlandish that it traumatized attendees and ruined peoples’ vacations. 

Response: Mandisa has openly acknowledged and apologized for her behavior on the cruise. In an interview Mandisa gave to Religion News Service, she stated “I acknowledged my responsibility for how it had been handled” and “I apologized to some individuals and took corrective action for the rest of the cruise.” As a result, the two speakers who were impacted by her behavior have indicated acceptance of her apologies and demonstrate no signs of holding a grudge against her. (At the time of this writing, they are still friends on social media and have even been seen wearing BN clothing.) In fact, one of the speakers expressed that there is still room for possible future collaborations with Mandisa. 

One of the allegations against Mandisa is that she coerced men into sexual relationships with her. In this case, the relationship between Mandisa and the member/speaker was not only consensual, it was known to many people. Many people witnessed pre-cruise interactions between Mandisa and the member/speaker and they appeared friendly, comfortable, and excited about upcoming events.

Another complaint against Mandisa is that she expels men once they reject her advances. In the case of this member/speaker, he has not faced any apparent backlash from Mandisa as a result of their conflict on the cruise. In fact, in the Incident Report, the writer reveals that Mandisa “expressed an intention to ‘not kick him out of BN.’” At the time of this writing, this person is still part of the BN Facebook group and a Facebook friend of Mandisa’s. He also has not publicly expressed any animosity toward Mandisa. He was seen by many being friendly with Mandisa at various times throughout the remainder of the cruise. In fact, immediately after the cruise, he posted on social media, “#bnseacon2022 don’t owe me a thing” with a smile.

Despite the complaints that are being lobbed at Mandisa presently, during the cruise, multiple people, including former organizers such as Bridgett Crutchfield, were being supportive of Mandisa’s confrontation. There are text messages between Mandisa and at least 2 other conference attendees, one of which was Bridgett, stating “I’m glad you got that off your chest.” Another attendee texted, “glad you got to get it out!” In one text exchange, Mandisa expressed “embarrassment” about what happened on the cruise and Bridgett responded, “It’s NOT a reflection on you,” offering further support for the emotional distress Mandisa was under.

Most people could likely empathize with someone who expected to have a romantic relationship with someone on a cruise only to be heartbroken when he turns his attention to someone else. (In fact, in the Incident Report, at least one of the former organizers stated that “Mrs. Thomas had my deepest sympathies…as she was clearly emotional and affected….”) One of the biggest tenets of polyamory is about the importance of open communication among all parties involved. There should be no secrets or surprises. However, in this case, the member/speaker involved acknowledges in his personal statement that he was not communicating with Mandisa. He states, “I could tell that she felt that I was being distant from her and I was being distant purposefully…. And I was hoping that she would just get the picture. But we never talked about it and I wish we would have.” These are not the words of a victim.  

The former organizers assert that Mandisa’s behavior traumatized attendees and ruined their vacations. However, immediately following the cruise and weeks after, many people stated that they were not even aware of the conflict happening. For example, in a written statement from one of the attendees, he states that he did not become aware of the problems until after the cruise. He also identifies 2 other attendees to whom he talked and states that they, too, were unaware of the conflict. The truth of the matter is that only a few attendees were aware of what was going on. The majority of the people who knew were the former organizers and affiliates. 

One of the so-called victims has text screenshots in the Incident Report in which she states, “I don’t know how much you know but shit got real bad for me on that ship. More than I let on. My self esteem tanked. My mental health tanked. ________ was worried I was going to hurt myself.” However, she does not present as a victim in text messages between her and Mandisa. There are text screenshots that show this particular member/victim engaging Mandisa in conversation before and after the confrontation, including statements such as “love you back.” She is also the person who texted Mandisa, “glad you got to get it out!” This member/victim even continued contact with Mandisa after the cruise in a very friendly manner. This member’s undated statement from the Incident Report indicates that she has deleted Mandisa and BN on social media. However, she was communicating via private texts with Mandisa as late as December 6th, which was three days post-cruise. What could have changed her mind in that time but the opinions of the former organizers?

 Issue #2: Upside down pineapple stickers on the cruise

Summary: During the 2022 BN SeaCon, stickers were available for attendees to put on their name badges to signify different things. For example, rainbows for LGBTQ individuals. Pineapple stickers were also available for those who chose to openly identify as polyamorous. In pre-cruise email announcements and again during the pre-cruise reception, Mandisa explained to attendees what the various stickers were for and left it to each person to decide whether or not they wanted to wear one. The former BN organizers have complained that these simple stickers “made members feel uncomfortable and was not appropriate for the conference.” 

Response: The truth of the matter is that the pineapple stickers were not Mandisa’s idea. Charone Pagett, one of the writers of this report, has taken responsibility for it being her idea. Charone explains that she got the idea from a show called Shiplife, which discussed how the pineapple was common on cruises. However, “Mandisa took great care to change the general rules of the pineapple from basically having it on the door of the cabin…[to just doing] little stickers and not hav[ing to] broadcast throughout the ship.” Mandisa reports that she researched it and even spoke to other cruise attendees and speakers prior to the cruise to garner input. In fact, the Incident Report states that one of the former organizers talked to Mandisa in advance about it and he was “confused but excited” about the idea. The former organizers do not demonstrate that anyone counseled Mandisa against implementing this communication tool.

At no time was anyone instructed to put on a sticker. No one was made to feel othered for failing to put on a sticker. Out of the five writers of this response, none chose to wear the upside down pineapple. None felt pressure to do so and are not aware of anyone else who felt uncomfortable about it. In fact, some of the former BN organizers willingly donned the upside down pineapples during the cruise. (Photographic evidence is in the public domain and can be found in various places online where people posted pictures from the cruise.) Also, in the Incident Report, it states, “Likewise, I was not aware of any person(s) rejecting Mrs. Thomas’ proposals; nor of any openly expressing discomfort or distress by Mrs. Thomas’s proposal.”

It is worth noting that BN markets itself as a social organization whose primary aim is to provide a safe space for nonbelievers who have freed themselves of religious oppression. BN has also always taken a clear and public stance about the importance of shedding harmful religious beliefs about sexuality. BN supports open expression of all forms of sexuality and ethical behavior. This is even seen in the fact that many BN events have hosted “After Dark” sessions in which they specifically focus on sex-related topics ranging from BDSM to safe sex during COVID to vasectomies. Therefore, it 9 should come as no surprise that the SeaCon would also incorporate an element that welcomed attendees to show up as their full selves, including all aspects of their sexuality. 

Issue #3: Sexual Coercion 

Summary: Mandisa has been accused of using coercion to get sex from men. The allegations further assert that once a man no longer goes along with Mandisa’s expectations, she then kicks him out of BN or attempts to have him blackballed in other ways. 

Response: Coercion is defined as “the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.” The Incident Report details Mandisa’s relationships with two specific men. One of the men was the previously discussed member/speaker on the cruise. Per his own statement, their relationship was sexual and consensual. He even acknowledges that he avoided having a frank conversation with her about his changed feelings. He concludes his statement by saying, “we’ve since patched it up and have moved forward from the situation.” Where is the “force or threats” here? If the target of Mandisa’s outburst acknowledges his contribution to the problem and reports no ongoing animosity, why are outside observers and former organizers trying to turn the issue into something bigger?  

Another aspect of the former organizers’ complaints is that when men try to end their relationship with Mandisa, she punishes them using tactics such as kicking them out of BN or blackballing them. The former organizers claim that this first member/speaker had actually “broke it off but that Mandisa would not let it go.” However, there are text screenshots as late as November 10th that show Mandisa and this member/speaker making plans for sexual encounters on the cruise. For example, he asked, “Will I need Viagra?” “I’m laughing but I’m also serious.” Other texts as late as November 24th reveal this member/speaker referring to Mandisa as “my dear.” In fact, he repeatedly initiated contact with Mandisa in the days leading up to the cruise. These are not the actions of a person trying to “break up” with someone. Where is the “force or threats” here?  

Another complaint is that Mandisa buys lavish gifts for her paramours to try to entice them to stay. In the case of this member/speaker, there are text screenshots that show the member/speaker stating that he wanted to return an expensive electronic gift. When Mandisa asked if there was a reason he wanted to return them, he stated, “The reason is the cost, lol.” She further stated, “I value our friendship and what we have,” to which he responded, “As do I.” Where is the “force or threats” here?  

 The second man highlighted by the former BN organizers issued a statement that was emotionally charged, inflammatory, and at some points, down right libelous. Like the first man, he acknowledges that their relationship was consensual and that he was a willing 11 participant. However, he goes on to make a number of outlandish allegations about theft and murder. He says all of these things without offering any evidence. He complains that Mandisa kicked him out of BN and caused him to lose job opportunities. However, he does not talk about the fact that he did, indeed, scam a woman Mandisa had referred to him. Stephanie Steinberg, whose statement is attached, reports that she hired this man for $700 to build a website and create a logo. She states that he strung her along for a period of time, claiming he was busy with other projects. After pressing him many times, she reports that he sent her a logo “that did not look professionally done by any means” and she never got the website. Unfortunately, Stephanie says she “came to the conclusion that I had been scammed.” Another member also reported that this man took money from her to perform a job that he never delivered. This man lost work because of his own lack of professionalism and con artist behaviors. Nothing more. Nothing less. Mandisa was well within her right to remove this kind of individual from her organization, lest he continue to prey on the members. Where is the “force or threats” here?

One might think twice about taking his statement as legitimate. In fact, additional details in the Incident Report suggests that this former member was an opportunistic voyeur, rearing his head to get the juicy gossip and chime in with his anger. In the Incident Report, it states, “Mr. ______ was interested in extracting proprietary details surrounding Mrs. Thomas…when contacted…Mr. ________ became disinterested in speaking with me and declined to offer any substantive info.” Despite his refusal to speak to that former organizers, he eventually submitted a statement to one of the other organizers. In that statement, he not only attacks Mandisa, he attacks Bridgett, as well. If he is a reliable witness who should be trusted in his critique of Mandisa, why did the former organizers not turn their attention on the other person he called out as problematic?

The general sense that one gets from these allegations about sexual improprieties is that the bigger issue at play is the tendency to police female bodies and slut shame women who are unashamed about their sexuality. The former BN organizers have repeatedly stated, “certain behaviors are not tolerated by men and they shouldn’t be accepted from a woman either.” While anyone would agree with this statement, it was made in a way that left room for much speculation without any concrete information to back up the sentiment it conveys. In an OnlySky article, one of the former organizers asks, “Would AA and other powerful secular voices ignore it if a man tossed white women from an organization for discontinuing sex?” Well, in fact, the answer is no. There are several well-known atheist white men who have been called out, reprimanded, and “excommunicated” from prominent positions within the community for substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct and criminal behaviors. Mandisa’s name has been lumped in with these very men. No one has ever made such an allegation 12 against Mandisa. In fact, in the Incident Report, they highlight that certain claims are “unsubstantiated and contradicted.” The former organizers present no evidence that Mandisa ever threatened anyone with whom she had a sexual relationship. 

 Issue #4: Sexual Misconduct

Summary: Mandisa has been accused of sexual misconduct following a sexual encounter at a national convention. She has also been called out for living a polyamorous lifestyle. 

Response: Mandisa adamantly affirms that she has never engaged in anything other than consensual sexual relations. In fact, some statements explicitly declared the consensual nature of the encounters. Mandisa has been erroneously compared to well-known atheist sexual predators, despite the fact that no one has ever actually accused her of anything nearly as detestable as those men. Statements such as “Harassment etc. are not tolerated by men and they shouldn’t be accepted from a woman either” suggest that something more nefarious is at work. But the truth of the matter is that there is nothing there. 

Ironically, the Incident Report declares: “It is important to note that I nor my colleagues begrudged Mrs. Thomas’ preferred relationship model(s) in her personal and intimate life. So long as those relationships are consensual, I take no issue with Mrs. Thomas.” Mandisa and her former partners have all confirmed the consensual nature of their relationships. If the former organizers had no issue with her “relationship model(s),” why the heavy focus on her sexual relationships in their investigation? For example, in contradiction to this statement about Mandisa’s “relationship model(s),” one of the other organizers wrote in the OnlySky article that Mandisa “incorrectly identifies” as polyamorous. This a judgmental statement made by someone who is overly concerned about someone else’s intimate lifestyle. 

In the atheist, freethought, and humanist worlds, it is not uncommon for people to have ideas about sexuality that are significantly more liberal than those held by religious people. Alternative lifestyles such as polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, and BDSM are common among non-religious people. Yet some within this community have looked down upon Mandisa for doing some of the very same things they, themselves, do! For example, much was made about the upside down pineapple stickers that people could voluntarily choose to wear on their name badges. The former BN organizers have raged against those stickers despite the fact that some of them were, themselves, wearing the sticker! 

At least one of the former organizers was also trying to make sexual connections on the cruise. The writers of this report have first-hand information regarding a former organizer making another female attendee visibly uncomfortable one night at the night club on the ship. When an observer was gathering all of the attendees to take a group 14 photo on the dance floor, effectively interrupting the former organizer’s attempts to dance with the female attendee, the female attendee looked at the observer, eyes big with anxiety, and said, “Thank you!” This former organizer was also flirting with other speakers and leaders, including more than one of the writers of this report. Additionally, at least one of the former organizers also had a sexual relationship with a well-known leader in the movement. The point here is not to call out these people for their behaviors, but rather to make the point that their righteous indignation is ill-placed and farcical. The former organizers would have an outside observer believe that Mandisa preys upon her members. However, they provide no such evidence to support the claim. In fact, if the former organizers feel that Mandisa’s behavior needs investigation, the conduct of other former leaders might deserve additional scrutiny, as well. 

What is more likely at play here is misogynoir, slut shaming, and residual religion-related sexual inhibition. As a black woman, Mandisa is not afforded the same level of sexual freedom as others. Black women are already accused of being Jezebels and Sapphires. But where is the accountability for the men who led her on while supposedly no longer desiring a sexual relationship? When a black woman deigns to live a sexually liberated lifestyle, she is almost sure to be attacked. Nothing less has happened here. 

Issue #5: Mandisa has been accused of misappropriating BN money to fund non-BN activities. She has also been accused of failing to take care of BN organizers when they are operating in official BN capacities.  

Summary: The Incident Report states that Mandisa “generously sponsored a party in a private lounge” at AACon. It also reports that Mandisa told one of the former organizers about her plans to have a sexual encounter at the conference. The former organizer also explains that he had to spend his personal money at the conference, despite the fact that he was attending in an official capacity as a BN leader. The former organizers feel that Mandisa is misappropriating funds when she engages in social and intimate activities while also not financially supporting her leaders.  

Response: It is quite common for organizations and leaders to host get-togethers at big events. Because these types of parties are explicitly connected to the conference, it is also common for the organizations to purchase the supplies. In this case, however, the social was not solely sponsored by BN. Other leaders and attendees contributed supplies, food, and drink. The AACon social simply is not an example of misappropriation of funds.  

Another part of the complaint was that Mandisa had sex in her hotel room during the conference. Mandisa had a legitimate, BN business-related reason to be in that hotel room. Perhaps one could call it misappropriation if she had no other legitimate reason to have booked the room, but that is not the case in this situation. 

It seems that the real problem lies in the fact that the former organizer was spending some of his own money and not BN money. Interestingly enough, this organizer states that during AACon, not only did Mandisa offer to reimburse him, he failed to follow up with her. Instead, he puts the onus on Mandisa by stating she “never revisited” her offer. Why did he not take the initiative? In another instance where she offered to cover his bar tab, he states that she did not take his ticket and he therefore “quietly resolved to pay it.” Why did he not physically hand her the ticket?  

There are historical text exchanges between Mandisa and this particular organizer where Mandisa offers to “compensate” him and he responds, “awwww-that’s great! Thank you for thinking of me! No worries-I’m just glad to help out.” Other text exchanges show her requesting the best email for her to send him a Paypal disbursement, negotiating how to divide up grant money, and offering to pay for promotional materials. These are but minor examples that at least demonstrate that Mandisa offers financial assistance to her organizers and affiliates regularly. In fact, all of the former organizers were at least partially sponsored by BN for the cruise.  

It is not uncommon for organizers, representatives, and even speakers to pay their own costs up front and get reimbursed by the hosting organization upon submission of receipts, invoices, and other such documents. This former organizer’s complaint against Mandisa simply holds no water due to his confession that he did not do his part to ensure he was reimbursed. This section of the Incident Report simply sounds like the gripes of a colleague who feels they have not gotten what they deserve. In fact, the Incident Report basically states this: “The failure to be either able or willing to provide basic accommodations for volunteer BN leaders at a premier conference for even one night, or to reimburse a meal for person(s) promoting the organization illuminates a problem of both financial transparency, accountability, and misappropriation of resources. Mrs. Thomas apparently found BN resources sufficient to provide her own conference registration, meal and hotel stay but not for (at least one of) its director(s). To me, hearing of the sexual encounter that night…was insulting.” This former organizer is implying that his concern about misappropriation of funds is primarily related to the fact that he did not get the money he felt he deserved while Mandisa was enjoying herself at the conference. Would he have lodged these same complaints had she reimbursed him?  

It simply is not true that Mandisa does not provide resources for her organizers. Each of the writers of this report have all been reimbursed or sponsored by BN multiple times and the same is true for the former organizers.

Issue #6: Mandisa has been accused of throwing people out of BN after they do or say something she does not like. 

Summary: The Incident Report highlights several individuals who allege that Mandisa wrongly expelled them from BN membership following some sort of argument or conflict. The first statement is from a former organizer who states that he had conflict with Mandisa after making a suggestion about how to increase membership engagement. Another was from a woman who says that she made a comment on Mandisa’s Facebook page, which escalated into a public argument. The third statement is from a former sexual partner who states that she put him out because he refused to continue having sex with her.  

Response: BN bylaws indicate that BN has a formal process for becoming a member. However, that process has not been operationalized and therefore the de facto process has been very informal. Essentially, all one has to do is join an official BN Facebook group, attend a meeting, or engage with BN members in order to call themselves a member. Payments and applications are not currently required. Therefore, it is difficult to even ascertain what it means to be “kicked out” of BN. What it seems to boil down to is being wrongfully/arbitrarily removed from a BN Facebook group or disinvited from an event. For various reasons, each of these statements do not even meet these definitions of “kicked out.” 

The first statement requires little response. The former organizer directly states that, not only did he voluntarily step down from his role as an organizer, he also voluntarily removed himself from the Facebook group. In a text screenshot from the Incident Report showing a conversation between one of the former organizers and this person, this person states: “So in January-ish or maybe February I went into Meetup and removed myself as organizer and quit the group. Then for some reason I decided to quit on FB later.” “Then I quit the FB group. Then I followed up by quitting everything else BN related.” This clearly is not an example of a person being “kicked out” of BN. The former member also reports in his own statement that Mandisa returned his Women of Color conference registration fee, essentially disinviting him from the event. What he also admits to in the statement is that he had a history of conflict with a BN member, which Mandisa reminded him of. Although he complains that Mandisa “held a grudge” against him, he does not deny that there was a past problem.  

The second statement is from a woman who claims to have been arbitrarily removed from a BN Facebook group. It is difficult to comment on this issue as it boils down to a he-said-she-said kind of situation. Although Mandisa declares that the problem was not as cut-and-dry as the former member’s statement appears, there was no additional 18 evidence to disprove or corroborate any claims or defenses. In an attempt to be fair and intellectually honest, no specific stance is taken in this matter. 

The third statement is from a man who has already been discussed in this response. He admittedly engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Mandisa. He states that he began dating someone and cut things off with Mandisa. He alleges that Mandisa then began a campaign against him, resulting in both reputational damage and financial loss. However, he does not discuss that others have accused him of behaving inappropriately toward women. He does not discuss the fact that other BN members had lodged complaints against him. He does not discuss the fact that some of the work he lost was because he was not producing what he promised and therefore the client stopped working with him. In an attached statement, the client states: “It is unfortunate that _________ did not produce anything we agreed upon, but I am fortunate that I did not continue to send ________ more money as I came to the conclusion that I had been scammed.” Another BN member reports that she commissioned this man for work that he did not deliver to her, either. He did not lose these job opportunities because Mandisa was having him blackballed. No. He lost them because of his own unethical behaviors. Mandisa admits to removing this man from the BN Facebook group and she feels strongly that it was the right decision. His behavior speaks for itself.  

Issue #7: Mandisa has been accused of harassing and traumatizing others through her conversation.  

Summary: The former BN organizers state that Mandisa shared detailed stories with them about her personal life. They allege that they felt uncomfortable with her level of openness with them. They state that these uncomfortable situations ultimately left them feeling traumatized. They state that there was a “pattern and practice of over-fraternizing-with [sic] and oversharing with colleagues on personal, intimate matters” and that, “Unsolicited, non-contextual sharing or manipulation can be part and parcel with sexual harassment; it is a form of coercive control.” 

Response: The former BN organizers all acknowledge that they had some level of friendship with Mandisa, that she was not solely a professional colleague. They acknowledged that having these open conversations with Mandisa gave them the feeling that they were friends. Mandisa states that she, too, felt that each of these former organizers was a friend as well as a professional collaborator. She acknowledges that she allowed herself to become emotionally vulnerable with these people as a result of the closeness she felt with them. She felt that they were safe spaces. In fact, one of these former organizers was her closest friend and they routinely and publicly referred to each other as sisters. 

In the Incident Report, it is acknowledged that they did not tell Mandisa when she was making them uncomfortable. They acknowledge that they never told her how they felt about the things she chose to reveal to them. One former organizer wrote, “Regrettably, I never told Mrs. Thomas ‘don’t be messing with BN men!’” He also stated, “I was happy to listen to Mrs. Thomas as she urgently disclosed news I was previously unaware of.” “I lent a sympathetic ear.” “I deduced that to Mrs. Thomas, I was both [a] trustworthy personal ally and colleague….” 

As adults, it is incumbent upon each individual to champion their own mental and emotional health in order to foster productive, mutually satisfying relationships. From their own words, the former organizers make it clear that they never told Mandisa how they felt until they released their statements of separation. They make no real statements of substance about just what harm they suffered. They fail to demonstrate that their roles within BN were conditionally based on their friendship. That is, they say she used these kinds of friendship conversations to control them professionally. However, they provide no examples of this. 

Issue #8: The former BN organizers stated that there was no other way for them to address their concerns with Mandisa other than for them to exit the organization in this highly public manner.  

Summary: The former BN organizers state that Mandisa created a “hostile work environment,” which left them “ill-equipped” to successfully manage their individual groups or the organization as a whole. They allege that there was no real structure in place to address grievances. They state that Mandisa was accountable to no one. The OnlySky article even states that there was no board at all. As a result of conflicts and this lack of structure, the former organizers decided to do an investigation against Mandisa.  

Response: Black Nonbelievers, Inc is a 501(c)(3). As such, it is federally required to have a minimum of three board members. At the time of the former BN organizers’ departure, the BN board members were: Mandisa Thomas, Bridgett (Bria) Crutchfield, and Lisa Staton Dyer. How often they met and what kinds of decisions they made together is a totally separate conversation from whether or not the board exists. Bridgett called the board “non-functional.” As the vice president of the organization, it was her fiduciary responsibility to ensure the life and health of the organization just as much as the president’s. Despite her executive role within BN, Bridgett is believed by many to be the first of the former organizers to campaign against Mandisa and declare that “the ship is going down!” The truth of the matter is that Bridgett and Mandisa had been having increasing personal conflict before and during the cruise. That animosity no doubt fueled Bridgett’s slash and burn approach to addressing her concerns. 

 The idea that the former organizers conducted a full, unbiased investigation of Mandisa is simply ludicrous. Examine the timeline. Bridgett began having private meetings with BN organizers, members, and affiliates during the cruise. During these meetings, she discussed many grievances she had against Mandisa that were unrelated to the events on the cruise. As she met with more and more people, she began swaying their opinions. One of the other organizers states that he called for “a secure meeting” on December 2nd. Several of the writers of this response were involved in those meetings and can personally attest to Bridgett’s rage, personal complaints, and bully tactics to get others to fall in line with her aim to ruin BN and Mandisa.

There are text screenshots that demonstrate that two days after the cruise on December 5th, a witness texted Bridgett with ideas about how to proceed without destroying the organization. Bridgett responded, “We’re past that point,” then subsequently unfriended the witness on Facebook and Instagram. Other writers of this report had similar interactions with Bridgett with the same results. By the end of the day 21 on December 5th, the former BN organizers publicly announced their separation from BN.

What kind of investigation could have honestly taken place in the two days between the end of the cruise and the announcement? And what, exactly, were they investigating?  

Timestamps on some of the text messages released by the former BN organizers demonstrates that their investigative activities were taking place well after the decision to leave had been made and announced. Despite the fact that they claim “We based our decision to step away from the organization on our personal accounts of what happened [on the cruise]” they continued to pursue a post-cruise campaign against Mandisa that included things not related to the cruise. In fact, months later in an OnlySky article, one of the former organizers confessed that “Mandisa’s outburst on the ship…was not the sole catalyst for our departure.” 

One of the former organizer’s statements indicates that she received testimonial statements “a few days later” from people who were not even on the cruise. Others acknowledge giving statements as early as December 7th, which was still after they had already departed the organization. In one of the text screenshots in the Incident Report dated December 8th, one of the former organizers tells someone that “there’s an ongoing investigation(s) into these (and related) matters and you will most likely be contacted in the near future to give a full account.” It is not until December 12th that the text screenshots indicate an attempt to get a statement from this person. 

The former organizers repeatedly asserted that their investigation was full and unbiased. They claimed that they engaged in a “rapid response…that is appropriate within a zero-tolerance context.” However, their statements, videos, articles, and posts involve little more than disgruntled friends and colleagues “rounding up” other disgruntled former friends and colleagues to lodge their complaints. They even dredged up statements from years ago that included complaints against not only Mandisa, but Bridgett, as well!  

The former organizers like to believe that they have gone about this process as professionally as possible. However, they effectively stole BN members and resources in the process. For example, the BNDC Facebook page was repurposed as The Black Secular Humanist Collective. The people in that group would have been considered BN members according to BN’s informal membership structure. Therefore, by taking over that page and kicking Mandisa out of the group, they were stealing BN members and automatically placing them in a new group that they had not voluntarily signed up for. It is interesting to note that, as of the writing of this report, The Black Secular Humanist 22 Collective maintains “BNDC” as part of their Facebook group name. Are they doing that to avoid confusion about the name change? If they want to fully separate from BN, they should release the moniker, despite the fact that they have stolen the members. 

Despite this flurry of activity during and after the cruise, none of the former organizers, including the former vice president, attempted to contact the third board member, Lisa Staton Dyer, to solicit her input on the matter. It is true that she was not on the cruise, but it is clear that the former organizers never intended to keep their gripes focused on events on the cruise. They chose to seek out information and evidence that was blatantly unrelated to the cruise. In fact, they included one of the other organizers who was not on the cruise in post-cruise conversations and statements. Therefore, they cannot argue that they did not include Lisa because she was not on the cruise. In her statement, Lisa writes, “I'm especially stunned that affiliate groups…broke away from BN without any discussion with the Board; I, at least, have NEVER been contacted in regard to any problems or plans that led to the present disconnection that we face.” She continues, “Whatever is at the root of the fissures that threaten BN, this board member has been excluded from any dialogue, formal or informal, and…I would have appreciated the respect to be informed of such dire concerns as a board member.” Quite relevant to the situation at hand, Dyer sagely paraphrased James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed that isn't faced.” 

The former organizers could have chosen another path, but they opted for a destructive path involving a sham investigation through an unprofessional process.  

 Conclusion

The former BN organizers departed from BN with a bang! They released memes, videos, reports, documented “evidence”, and screenshots of text conversations. They posted cryptic messages hurling profanities and insults at the other organizers and affiliates who did not follow them. The major document release, the BNDC Incident Report, contains a significant amount of details that undermine the points they are trying to make, contradict itself, or are simply irrelevant. The document attempts to inflate its importance by referring to the stories involved as “incidents” and is padded with repetitive information. They included written and transcribed statements from former members, at least one of which appears suspicious due to variations in the text formatting. 

The Incident Report details nine incidents (It states eight incidents but it contains two “Incident #6,” equaling nine incidents). Numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 all present specific issues reported by current and former BN members and affiliates. We would argue that #4 fails to demonstrate the point it is trying to make. There is a second #6 that is essentially a repeat of #3. Numbers 2, 5, and 7 are merely stories recounted by the report author, some of which failed to demonstrate its relevance other than to provide salacious gossip. For example, #5 tells stories of the writer’s encounters with a former member and only connects it to Mandisa by stating the former member’s opinion of Mandisa. This incident also discussed a past legal battle between a totally different former affiliate and the former BN vice president, Bridgett Crutchfield. Why include information about someone else’s legal trouble in this document other than to try to make Mandisa look guilty by association. Although #7 is supposedly about misappropriation of funds, the report primarily focuses on the fact that one of the former organizers did not get money from BN that he felt he deserved. 

There was also an article written by one of the former organizers published on OnlySky. This article reads like a hit piece as it attacks Mandisa, secular organizations, BN allies, and anyone who did not blindly agree with the former organizers. It also makes statements that are patently false. Tina Marshall from BN of Charlotte did not receive BN funding for a Christmas party. Sikivu Hutchinson did not “remove” Mandisa from the Women of Color event. Larger organizations stated their various reasons for Mandisa taking leaves of absence. Mandisa was not “removed” from Godless Gospel. 

There was also an article written by one of the former organizers published on OnlySky. This article reads like a hit piece as it attacks Mandisa, secular organizations, BN allies, and anyone who did not blindly agree with the former organizers. It also makes statements that are patently false. Tina Marshall from BN of Charlotte did not receive BN funding for a Christmas party. Sikivu Hutchinson did not “remove” Mandisa from the Women of Color event. Larger organizations stated their various reasons for Mandisa taking leaves of absence. Mandisa was not “removed” from Godless Gospel. 

They unfriended her and attacked her on social media under the guise of siding with the victims. If someone was so primed to abandon Mandisa at the first sign of trouble, they probably already did not like her for their own reasons. In which case, they should have ceased friendships/collaborations with her long before this conflict. Instead, some of these very people were fine to take BN money and resources as recently as Women of Color (September 2022) and BN SeaCon (November 2022). 

Off-the-record conversations with multiple people reveal the internal conflict people experienced over this situation. However, some of them chose to stand by their decision to no longer work with Mandisa despite their recognition that the problem is probably not as cut and dry as the former organizers would have people believe. Despite the fact that the charge was led by someone who has a notorious reputation of being a hothead with a short fuse. If the former organizers want to call out Mandisa for poor leadership and bad behaviors, each of them has same or similar characteristics that they, too, should be called out on. Some of the former organizers are harsh and abrasive. Some of the former organizers have poor people skills. Some of the former organizers attack people with whom they disagree. Some of the former organizers engage in, have a history of engaging in, or attempt to engage in sexual activity with other BN members. 

What is most important, though, is finding a successful path to reconciliation. How do we heal the community? How can we ensure that people experience BN as a safe space? How can Mandisa grow from this to be an even better leader?

 First, we acknowledge that Mandisa has some personal and professional growth to do. We acknowledge that she has hurt people in the past. We acknowledge that she needs to make some changes to the way she manages BN. What we also believe is that Mandisa is ready and willing to work on these issues and she can be successful with sufficient support. With friends and colleagues who will be honest with her about her shortcomings. With leaders and members who are ready to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work. Keyboard activism simply does not change lives the way realtime, in-person, old-school beating the pavement action does, which is what BN specializes in.

All leaders have shortcomings. Mandisa does not pretend to be perfect and we, the writers of this report, are not blind to that reality. Mandisa has participated in numerous “counseling” conversations with friends and allies who want to see her and BN thrive. She has already made some substantive changes and has expressed a willingness to continue. For example, she has reinstituted her board and begun having meetings. She is reviewing bylaws and operating procedures. She is also attending to regulatory matters to ensure BN is in compliance with laws and regulations. Also, the Detroit, 25 Chicago, and Philadelphia chapters have been revitalized under new leadership. The chapter leaders are already meeting regularly and planning programing for the year.

Second, we feel that it is important for the non-believing community to examine this situation with solid critical thinking skills and avoid falling prey to the emotionally charged, salacious nature of the allegations against Mandisa. This is especially important for larger organizations as their support and collaboration is essential to the life and health of BN. For example, these organizations should continue to involve BN and in their events and functions. If they want to avoid having Mandisa present as the face of the organization, they could still include other representatives.

Third, individuals should consider how they could contribute to the community overall and BN specifically. The truth of the matter is that BN is the only player in the game doing what it does. There are no other highly functional organizations on national and international stages that cater to nonbelievers of color.

What’s worse, there is a dearth of people lining up to be leaders in non-believing minority communities. The former organizers claim that they considered asking Mandisa to step down temporarily but decided against it because they did not think Mandisa would go for it. But another question to ask would be, which one of them was ready to stand in her place as president and executive of the organization? BN of Louisville had lain dormant and was only just coming back online in the fall. BN of Detroit had not been functional for quite some time, despite the fact that it was supposedly headed by the BN vice president. BN of Portland had also been quiet. The only chapters that were really thriving were BN of Atlanta, BN of DC, BN of Charlotte, and BN of New York and none of these leaders (besides Atlanta, of course) have gone on record expressing any interest in and willingness to run a national organization.

It is difficult to run a local chapter and even more difficult to run a national organization. Unfortunately, Mandisa does not have the administrative support or financial stability to run BN the way American Atheists, American Humanist Association, Freedom From Religion Foundation, and other large bodies do. These are decades-old organizations with multimillion dollar budgets, endowments and foundations, huge boards of directors, and highly active and engaged memberships. If someone wants to see BN do better and if they believe in the mission of the organization, that person should consider partnering with BN and joining the cause!

One of BN’s slogans is “BN Changes Lives!” BN has touched countless people–across all races and ethnicities–and provides hope to those who want to be free of religion. BN will not stop its work, regardless of who tries to bring it down, and there are people who 26 are ready and willing to ensure that does not happen. All humans are flawed but we choose to attribute worth and dignity to everyone and act in ways to bring out the goodness in others and thereby in ourselves (Supreme Ethical Rule). 

To end on a positive note, here are some things people had to say about the cruise on the In The Cut episode that aired December 3, 2022:  

•  “It feels like a family reunion…this feels like what a family reunion should be.” –Former Organizer #1 

• “You should’ve been there!” – Attendee #1  

• “It was absolutely wonderful! I count it a gift to have been invited to be a part of the community.” “I appreciated the fellowship.” “It was a wonderful experience..for me overall just being invited…and to be trusted to be in community with Black Nonbelievers is just amazing!” –Speaker (Involved in the incident on the cruise) 

•  “It was awesome! We had so much fun. We had a great time!” –Former Organizer #2 

• “It’s an experience and if you haven’t had that experience, that’s something you need to look at because 2023 is already available!” –Attendee #2

Attachments 

April 6, 2023 

I am an original BN Board member, a role in which I still proudly serve. In BN, I found a "home" that I didn't even know existed in the large, vibrant community of mostly black and brown people who walk by sight and not faith. BN has always served as a safe space for a unicorn like me; a 62 year old black woman, born and raised in the South and brought up in the black church whose questions around faith led me to stop performing the mental gymnastics necessary to sustain blind religious faith.

I remain proud to be part of a community that accepts, welcomes and supports non-believers without judgment. Therefore, I was very disappointed and distressed to learn that BN is splintering and under threat, seemingly over personal beefs that have been allowed to overshadow our mission. I'm especially stunned that affiliate groups, formed under the auspices of the BN parent group, broke away from BN without any discussion with the Board; I, at least, have NEVER been contacted in regard to any problems or plans that led to the present disconnection that we face.

I would like to believe that we could have reached some peaceful resolution that would have kept BN whole, but that wasn't an option; I wonder if that was even a consideration. To paraphrase James Baldwin, not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed that isn't faced. Whatever is at the root of the fissures that threaten BN, this board member has been excluded from any dialogue, formal or informal, and I certainly would have relished the opportunity to work toward a solution (not to mention that I would have appreciated the respect to be informed of such dire concerns as a board member.) 

 I remain committed to BN and as an eternal optimist, I hope this turns into an opportunity for ALL involved to understand what led us to this point, and even to find healing and reconciliation. 

Respectfully,  

Lisa Staton Dyer 

 

To Whom it May Concern,

As a fellow atheist activist, I reached out to Mandisa Thomas in 2022 for a recommendation for someone I could hire to build a website and logo, and she referred me to _____________. _______ contacted me that same day and explained that he had extensive experience in that field, and that he could help me with the website and logo. His starting fee was $700, which I paid. Soon after receiving the payment, several incidents kept occurring in his personal life, and he indicated that he would not be able to start the project right away. I was not in a hurry, and I suggested he provide the work I needed in another six weeks.  

As time progressed, I asked _________about the status of the logo and website, and he indicated that he was very busy doing a $50,000 project and that he could not get to mine. When I asked him about the other project, he said he couldn’t tell me much about it and alluded that it was very secretive. He also indicated that he could not show me the scope of work for my website and logo because he was working under the same account as the $50,000 project.

________then conveyed to me during that conversation how he could also do some social media work for me, but that I would need to send him more money. I explained to him that he still hadn't provided a logo, and that I would not be sending any additional payments. Within about five minutes, he forwarded a logo to that did not look professionally done by any means.

I eventually reached back out to Mandisa because _______ also told me that she had ceased communication with him. She confirmed this with me, but explained that it should not have affected the business agreement that I made with him. Mandisa also apologized for referring _______as a reputable resource, but I assured her that I do not hold her responsible for his actions.

It is unfortunate that ______ did not produce anything we agreed upon, but I am fortunate that I did not continue to send ______more money as I came to the conclusion that I had been scammed. I would be happy to discuss this in more detail at the contact information below.

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Steinberg 

 

April 6, 2023 

This email is in regard to an incident last year during the black non believers cruise which had occurred behind the scenes concerning Mandisa and another passenger. I first became aware that something had happened due to a message from ________ on Facebook. Afterward I messaged___________ and asked if he had heard about any incidents that had occurred unbeknownst to us, and he too was unaware at the time. I did not get the full story until sometime later that Mandisa and another passenger had a seemingly hostile, verbal exchange but was quickly reconciled privately. My wife and I became fully aware of all incidents after several Facebook posts were made, an article was written, and speaking to Mandisa herself. 

BN SeaCon 2022 Statement of Events

My name is ___________ and I am a member of Black NonBelievers in Atlanta GA. I am writing this statement to represent my experience on the BN SeaCon Cruise from November 27, through December 5, 2022. 

I witnessed nothing unseemly between my fellow travelers, nor did I have any knowledge of events that were alleged to have happened during the entire trip. In fact, I experienced a wonderful time meeting and hanging out with members on and off the ship. All were pleasant and treated me with kindness and seemed to be enjoying themselves. In fact, it was the best time I’ve had on the cruises I’ve attended, so far. I’ve only missed one.

 After we left the Port, we went back to the hotel where we stayed the day before boarding the cruise. I had not done so any other year. Everyone there still seemed to be enjoying one another. Some were in small groups conversating, Mandisa Thomas was interviewing people for her “In The Cut” broadcast, and some like me were just resting. I decided to leave early because I was sleepy and a little cranky due to waking up every hour the prior night because I thought I had missed the ship’s wake up call. 

When I returned home, I experienced a major shock when I logged onto Facebook and came across the message posted by the BN member groups outside of Atlanta. These groups were officially disconnecting from the Atlanta group. As stated before, I wasn’t aware of any altercations occurring amongst us, so the break seemed incredulous. 

In response to the break between the groups, I feel it is important to state my intentions and reasons. I am remaining with the Atlanta group, as well as continuing my monthly financial contributions. When I realized I no longer believed in a god, there seemed to be no one with whom I could relate within the black community. Then I discovered the existence of BN and found melanated others like myself who were questioning their faith. With BN came access to their MeetUp and Facebook groups where I discovered rational debate. Additionally, because of Mandisa’s willingness to work with the larger community, there was help from other Atheist groups, like Recovering From Religion where I learned to admit that I had experienced harm from religion and could let go.

BN offers a safe space in person for black people questioning religion. And along the way, we’ve developed friendships where we can discuss the unique challenges we face in our community. My hope is that this space will always remain open for those who need to land.

__________ 

April 5, 2023