FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW COMMUNITY FOR BLACK ATHEISTS IN DALLAS Local Group Celebrates National Day of Solidarity

for Black Nonbelievers

Dallas, Texas February 22, 2013 The Fellowship of Freethought Dallas, a local organization providing community and support to area atheists and freethinkers, today announced the formation of the group Black Nonbelievers of Dallas to support secular Blacks who feel marginalized in the New Atheist movement. In concert with the National Day of Solidarity for Black Nonbelievers, the new group will host a small symposium on Sunday, February 24th at the Resource Center in Oak Lawn. Black atheists from across the metroplex are invited to gather for presentations and discussion, followed by a social event in Oak Cliff. Alix Jules, Executive Director of the Fellowship of Freethought Dallas, will serve as the founding President of the new group. Jules noted that Black atheists dont necessarily have the same points of view, nor share common daily experiences with the larger New Atheist movement. For example, I still get followed in stores because of my race, and I still get stopped by police when driving my car in the wrong neighborhood. And even among the New Atheists, there is significant influence from cultural privilege that we would be wrong to ignore. Mandisa Thomas is founding President of Black Nonbelievers, Inc., a national organization based in Atlanta which will serve as the model for the Dallas group. Another reason the Black atheist experience is different, Thomas explained, is because of the highly emotional connection that many Blacks feel to God and the Church. The longstanding tradition of politics and social services intersecting with religion in the Black experience has created the misconception that there cannot be atheists in our community. Both Thomas and Jules are hopeful about the prospects for Black Nonbelievers of Dallas. There are so many Blacks coming out of religion who need our support, who need to hear our voices included within the secular community, Thomas stated. It is also time for the Black community to realize that we don't all subscribe to religious beliefs, and that we must work together to overcome our common disparities. ### Black Nonbelievers of Dallas is a project of the Fellowship of Freethought Dallas that is dedicated to providing an informative, caring, festive and family friendly environment for secular Blacks and their allies. Black Nonbelievers, Inc. is a non-profit fellowship of nonbelievers in the Atlanta area that strives to connect with other Blacks and their allies who are living free of religion. For additional information, contact: Alix Jules, President, Black Nonbelievers of Dallas alix@bndallas.org, 972-998-8300 Mandisa Thomas, President, Black Nonbelievers, Inc. mandisathomas@bellsouth.net, 404-213-9655