Greatest African American Freethinkers

[MissyDeRail]

This is a fantastic video!

[thefreedomfrom]

I loved this video.

Atheist need one for the freethinking women.

[Sagitarius011]

True American Heros

blessing video

[qabala]

Brilliant video.

It defeats the occasionally-forwarded argument that atheism is hostile to black people.

I will be citing this video in many of my future debates

Thank you for producing this thoroughly enlightening video.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@qabala ... not much of an argument, but then again theists say the darndest things. Your praise is much appreciated.  May the force of reason be with you.l

[kengranderson]

I may have asked this when I first saw this video, but how did W.E.B. DuBois and A. Philip Randolph not make it into this video?

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@kengranderson ... Well, I answered a query about Dubois I think ... and Randolph certainly showed up in my research, but I could not include everyone for several reasons. One reason was time.  I wanted the work to appeal to the short-attention span younger generation. Furthermore, couldn't get the smoking gun evidence for others as to their Freethinking stance. If there is a feature length version, the matter may be rectified in the future. :) Thanks 4 d input.

[LoliLoli83]

Great video! It needs more views!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@LoliLoli83 ... Thank you. After you have linked it, perhaps it will get more views. :

[1707054]

Man is a devil, a corrupter of nature, a self loving tyrant, lier, cheater and pillager.

[SpoonyG925]

Thank you brother!

[ladyjosephinelover]

i seriously enjoyed it i had no idea there were so many "freethinkers" in history that wereAA

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@ladyjosephinelover ... thanks for your kindness. Maybe your words will inspire someone to donate money for a full length feature film. :)

[ladyjosephinelover]

This is amazing!!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@ladyjosephinelover

:)

[ChinaBrooks]

Excellent video!

[KennyHBCA1]

Nice video

[sonykroket]

Interesting.

Never heard of him before, i guess the opressors of his time had a vested interest to not let this man get too famous

[doubtingED]

Absolutely Great Video! Tremendous perspective from the African American Atheists & Freethinkers! BRAVO! You are right.......long overdue to pay tribute to those who pave the way and progress our society & civilization.

[MsBREATHOFLIFE]

@doubtingEDThis tells me nothing Ed, all of these so called freethinkers, have died and gone to hell, as a result of their unbelief. Whether they are black, white, red, yellow, or whatever, their souls will be held accountable for the life they lived. I don't care if freethinkers have the idea that there is no God or not it makes no difference to me. I will not let anything separate me from the love of Christ in retrospect I'm a freethinker becuz I choose to serve Christ. Black or no I LOVE GOD.

[doubtingED]

@MsBREATHOFLIFE -You love what? a story? a figment of your imagination? Are you so blind that you cannot see that there is absolutely nothing to your belief in a nonexistent god? No proof...no evidence...no such thing? If Jesus of Nazereth even existed, he was just a person who lived as a Jewish Rabbi & died & rotted away, as every human being does. Why persist in a basless delusion when all facts & evidence talls us all plainly that you are completely wrong in a tribalistic & enslaving religion

[MsBREATHOFLIFE]

@dED I LOVE GOD, And yes it is a story, of history, as well, what may be imagination to you Ed, is real to me. Not only becuz it's the Bible but becuz I do hear the voice of God. I know what your going to say about that. And no I'm not. You call me blinded, I call you blinded, which I know that I'm right Ed. What are you going to do along with the many athiest that claim there is no God, and you wake up on the other side? What will you say? Damn she was right. Becuz I am right no question asked.

[doubtingED]

@MsBREATHOFLIFE - You deluded people will be the most disapointed people in death, as you are now in life, when you find out that all you have believed was just a man-made lie. There is no other side, there is no heaven & there is no hell. There is only this life and what we choose to do with the time we have here; that's all! Whatever happens, if anything, when we die is completely unknown to anyone who has ever lived. The dead do not talk; for no human being has every survived death...NO ONE!

[MsBREATHOFLIFE]

Jesus was a person, sent from God to turn men from Satan to the light. You say no proof or evidence of God, why are you trying to convince me there isn't? The reason I'm convincing you there is is becuz there is proof. Your still here Ed, if it was the O/T time you would have been gone, accourding to the Law of then. But becuz of Grace Ed, your still here spewing garbage, and that's all it is is garbage. This gospel is hide to you Ed, becuz your lost, the god of this wold has blinded you. Satan

[doubtingED]

@MsBREATHOFLIFE Show us your proof! Where is your proof that a person named Jesus ever existed? Where is your proof that Jesus was even this person's name? History & the Jewish religion (1800 yrs older than Xtianity) tells us the real name was Yeshua & that he was never Divine or the son of anyone other than Joseph. History tells us that Catholics made-up the name Jesus. Horus, the Egyptian God was identical to your fairytale & predated it by over 3,000 years. Your fake religion stole everything

[KasparHauser6]

Paul Robeson?

[MusicOfTheSystem]

I loved the wall painting. Who did that?

BTW, I'm a Humanist (not an Atheist). This a great video. Thanks for sharing it.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@MusicOfTheSystem

I believe the mural was done by a group of artists. It's called "The Great Wall of Crenshaw" and an internet search will offer more info.

[MusicOfTheSystem]

@FreethinkerChronicle

Ok, thanx!

[AVTRU1]

Religion is used to keep the people at odds

[ariespow]

Because their supremacist ideologies,the number one reason for human suffering is RELIGION!!!!

[thirdshift47]

How about the greatest black insurrectionary thinkers 1.)Nat Turner 2.)Demark Vesey 3.)Malcolm X 4.)Harriet Tubman 5.)Lucy Parsons 6.)Cato 7.)Oliver Law 8.)Robert F. Williams 9.)H Rap Brown 10.)Assata Shakur Recognizing the illegitamacy of divine authority means jack shit when one doesn't recognized the basic illegitimacy in all authority.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@thirdshift47

An idea for another documentary is born!! Thanks for the tip.

[charich1]

We need more information like this.Done very nicely.

[foldedintobeauty3]

i don't know nothing about birthin no babies! i love u prissy! i just learned something new! thank u video!

[MeQuirky]

Curious as to no mention of Langston Hughes or Richard Wright - ?

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@MeQuirky

Some people were left out as what you might call production decision. Did not know of Richard Wright. If a feature length documentary is next, I will rectify the matter. Thanks for comment.

[ManicRaider]

@FreethinkerChronicle Thank you for this video. This is just what I wanted to see.

[demetriusbiggs]

I guess if I didn't know anything about putting a film together, I could agree with you. If it was unintentional, then it is poor film making, if were intentional then it was a tool placed perfectly to draw the viewer into a conclusion that the video philosopher was trying to instill. I would suspect the second to be true.

[demetriusbiggs]

Please take note, that I am as guilty within the context of my art.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@demetriusbiggs

I am guilty of not drawing specific connections. If a feature doc is coming I will make the connections or not add 2 objectionable men?

[demetriusbiggs]

I liked the video until it deviated from the focus. I don't think the libertarian agenda has anything to do with freethinking. Without getting into the details of the philosophy, it took away from the video, leaving me with a feeling of being cheated. Like I was being sold another "scam" in the sub-text of the film. I think the video was a great idea that tried to tell more than one story at the same time.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@demetriusbiggs

Keen comments, Biggs. Yet, the focus does not deter in the film. Follow more closely and you will hear "culture" and "values' ... for most African Americans, that means religion. Without such shared values, according to someone like Sowell, African Americans would be much better off financially and socially. There is no queston that religion has retarded the progress of science. Some of us believe it has also retarded cultures.

[TheAnubisDrake]

This was very well done. Thank you for your efforts.

[luciano9009]

Thanks for posting, I will share such a fine piece of knowledge here. People should know this.

[davisgreen2020]

@FreethinkerChronicle: You are welcome. Keep up the informative good work !

[cappadinoceo]

wow! excellent vid and history lesson. this is very encouraging to know that there are more black atheists than i previously thought

[BlackBeardDelight187]

Thank you

[davisgreen2020]

Very informative indeed ! Keep the videos comming ! Any chance of doing a detailed videos on each of the people meationed?

[C11118]

Very good vid!!

[keshawn888]

@C11118

Thank you for sharing!!! Added to my favorites. Love it!!!

[truking25]

Black atheist on the rise!!!!!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

Well said, Poetry. Even an actual crutch can have negative effect, damaging a shoulder, wrists, muscles. Religion is the same ... it can help some people while hurting them in the long run. Believing in a higher power and giving oneself over to a dogmatic religion is 2 distinct subjects. Einstein may have believed in a higher power, but he didn't go to church.

[poetryselite]

I believe that there's both a positive and negative aspect of this issue. The positive thing is that people who've embarked on the foul life convert to religion and many actually turn their lives around for the better and become positive contributors to society. The negative aspect is that many people are born into religion (taught since birth) and can't compute even entertainin the idea that anotha path even exists... and because of that, they often condemn those who don't share their beliefs.

[poetryselite]

Belief in the idea of religion isn't necessarily a bad 1, but it can and has crippled many people who practice 1 without the full knowledge of whom they pledge allegiance to. I feel that there is indeed a Higher Power, but I'm not oppose to hearin the ideas of others. My belief in that Higher Power is solid, but just because one has belief in a Higher Being does not mean they lack intellect... intellect and spirituality can coexist, otherwise, 1 would not be open minded to the ideas of others.

[blancaluzdelsol]

thanks welcome :)

[apollomiami83]

That's very interesting! Gee, what an experience that must have been to greet and work with Tupac. I'm speechless! I wonder what of happened if two poest from opposite ends of spectrum met as well. I wonder if anyone kept a library of all the books Tupac read. I bet that would be worth a fortune.

[apollomiami83]

"I don't want to burn out. I want to live forever." [End Quote, Tupac Shakur on his concept of 'Outlaw Immortal]

[apollomiami83]

In addition, the philosophical concept of eternal recurrence was addressed by Arthur Schopenhauer. It is a purely physical concept, involving no supernatural reincarnation, but the return of beings in the same bodies. Time is viewed as being not linear but cyclical.

[apollomiami83]

If anyone is interested check out this video: Tupac Interview (Rare Footage)

Note very carefully Tupac words and then research Friedrich Neitzsche idea of "Eternal Recurrence". After all, Tupac was a studen of many, if not all, of the European greatest thinkers.

[apollomiami83]

Again! This is not to suggest that Tupac was Atheist because he never identified himself as an Atheist; yet, we can definitely see the traces of Freethought that are echoed by similar Freethinkers such as Robert G. Ingersoll e.t.c.

[apollomiami83]

"That's what they came up with the bible. Cause if God wrote the bible, I'm sure there would have been a revised copy by now." [Shakur, Tupac. 'Inside The Mind of Shakur'. 1996]

Lol @ that. Damn! I don't even think Sam Harris could of said something as good as that hahahahaha. We see in this quote Tupac mocking divine Biblical authority.

[apollomiami83]

"I'm the religion that to me is the realist religion there is. I try to pray to God every night unless I pass out." [Shakur, Tupac. 'Inside The Mind of Shakur'. 1996]

In this quote we see here hints of Individualism, Egoism, e.t.c. This interview took place just a few weeks or months before his death!!!!!

[apollomiami83]

This is a great video. You should have made it longer though including those modern day black Atheist. It's about time black Atheist are coming out of the closet to battle the unsavory attitudes of religious believers like Steve Harvey who makes himself "feel better" by throwing all Atheist under the bus!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@apollomiami83

I will lookk into making a feature length documentary some time next year. You've given me another idea. The greatest obstacles to Freethinkiing in the black community f (Harvey, J. Jackson, A. Sharpton).

[apollomiami83]

I was thinking that there needs to be a black Atheist film depicting those black freethinkers of the Harlem Renaissance. I spoke with my sibling the other night and was throwing around ideas that maybe Tyler Perry could make a film about this. It would definitelty win him an oscar award, and at the same paint Atheist or Atheism in a positive light.

[apollomiami83]

I think Tyler Perry could make himself a much better film maker if he stepped out of the box and try something different instead of black people getting divorced all the time!

[ShamelessNation]

Finally black people more and more are shaking the chains of religion. True freedom happens in the psyche.

[madblackatheist]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video for me.

[1Cyberangels]

Thank you very much for the history lesson - although I read a lot of history - most of it is all new to me...

[jeunimedia]

Wow, this is phenomenal work! It's along these lines that I've been planning to do Part II of my series. But, you've already done it. Definitely going to get the word out about this to everyone!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@jeunimedia

Kind comments ... thank you ... and, thanx 4 d linx.

[CornellNava]

True breath of fresh air.

[Daridawn]

Awesome thought!! Let's make God so transparent and invisible just it is - within imaginary things and focus more on issues why all dogma segregated masses of people all over the world!

[ItsMiguel1]

Marvelous video.

[APH0risma]

One more time, super great video, I love the wall painting as well is there more to see of that wall? ... Please send me a link of that amazing town that has such a wonderful wall...

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@APH0risma

It's called "The Great Wall of Crenshaw" ... do a search of it and u should find lots of pics. :)

[PrinceNoirAmericain]

Excellent video bro

[2young2beagrandma]

This is formerly cozmiksgirl66. I have this new channel now just so you know. I just want to say that I never understood why African Americans and Homosexuals believe in god. This video is very correct and I will help it get to the masses.

[backhomeforgood]

Wow! This is really mind blowing, with such truth. I am biracial, but I would never worship a white jesus. I have always supported and called myself black. I hope more of my sistahs and brothers will take the shackles off of their minds.

Thanks for the knowledge..

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@backhomeforgood

Thanks, Soul Sista. Jus got a comment from some Tx yahoo sayin that Jesus wasn't white! Let me say this about that; The only thing Theists know about Jesus is what they've been told or read ... n other words their indoctrination. He misses the point ... probably intentionally. Stay  n touch, Great Beauty.

[Coletta100]

"Religion is the organization of spirituality into something that became the hand maiden of conquerors. Nearly all religions were brought to people and imposed on people by conquerors and used as the framework to control their minds." - John Henrik Clarke Sooo true ! (a white woman)

[upabittoolate]

Thomas Sowell? MAAAAAAAAAAN please. He's a "Black conservative". On that grounds alone, there's no way you can consider him an intellectual.

[bhossast]

@upabittoolate I don't agree with a lot he has to say but if he was to be the guardian of a child of mine, I wouldn't worry about opportunity of education He/She may receive.

[upabittoolate]

@bhossast Wouldn't you be concerned about what education your child is getting though?

[bhossast]

@upabittoolate Yes, but aside from his political views, he's saying compete and the world is not a fair place. When Charles Murray put together The Bell Curve, Mr.Sowell said pretty much he didn't agree with Charles Murray but it was up to us to prove him wrong. ( Charles Murray said Blacks were not inferior to Whites just dumber.)

[upabittoolate]

@bhossast No. The world is not a fair place but the notions of rugged individualism & free market economy aren't intrinsically African. Don't dote on a Black man for purporting European ideology. I'm Black on both sides.

We didn't need a champion to debunk that Bell Curve nonsense. ANYone with ANY background in empirical research said "look at the experiment's design". The Bell Curve shit was weak in the 1st place. Don't congratulate Sowell for stating the obvious.

[bhossast]

@upabittoolate I was dead but now ALIVE!!!! What was I thinking!!! Still, I wouldn't mind him guiding or advising and education for a child or relative of mine but great freethinker??? NO!!!!!!!!

[upabittoolate]

@bhossast That's all I'm saying. Sowell is okay, in the Booker T Washington sense of okay, but he's not earth-shattering. I sat in on some of his lectures at University of Chicago. I wasn't impressed.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@upabittoolate

I've only read the man. Considering that the field is thin, I believe he easily warrants a place here. His political and socio-economic views echo those of my muse, Ayn Rand.  That alone would place him in my video.

[upabittoolate]

@FreethinkerChronicle Ayn Rand? You mean the rich, Jewish princess who wrote the whiny book that theorized the rich paying for everybody else while disregarding how they got rich in the 1st place? That broad? C'mon man. Lemme guess, you thought Booker T's "Atlanta Compromise" speech too.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@upabittoolate

Yes, that Ayn Rand. The same Thinker who is the only person to date that put ethics behind Atheism. If u are an atheist, u shud read her more closely. There is no philosophy offered by anyone that accomodates atheists more than Objectivism. That's just the way it is ...

[upabittoolate]

@FreethinkerChronicle Dude, ethics are intrinsic among good people. Either way, Ayn Rand didn't mother a damned thing. I'm not atheist. I'm a deist/agnostic/taoist who appreciates Sufism. I'm just not a religious person. I've studied science too much to "believe" in ANY dogma.

The problem is that you're wrapping yourself in platitudes life "objectivism" while forgetting the the very basis of life in THIS construct is SUBjective.

But c'mon, Ayn rand? weak sauce.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@upabittoolate

Sir, to say I'm wrapping myself in platitudes is a poor use of the word. Do u know what platitude is? Hope u hav more knowledge than u've shown to continue to discuss concepts with me. I let u get away with Prejudicial remarks of Ayn Rand before to cut u some slack. (Maybe u lack guidance) To say that Ayn Rand is "weak sauce' is nonsensical without u offering a shred of evidence to support such an assessment. Again, f u wish to continue hre ... you will bring it. Or exit

[upabittoolate]

@FreethinkerChronicle Spare me the "hope you have more knowledge" nonsense too. You're talking about Sowell's books; I've heard the man lecture more than once. I've even engaged him in a panel discussion.

So this is all you got?

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@upabittoolate

I've given u every chance to offer something of substance here and u fail. Personal attacks against Ayn Rand and Thoms Sowell will not engage me. It simply offers a glimpse into your psyche. If and when I call u an ignorant blow-hard ... I can back it up. What makes u think I care to engage an ignorant blow-hard?

[ricoatheist]

This is well done, and moving - it sums religion up for what it is - the biggest hoax to envelop logical, freethinking minds. Good job.

[LeighannLord]

Excellent. Thank you!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@LeighannLord

Comedy isn't pretty. It isn't easy either. Yours is a cherished compliment, my Thinking friend.

[thruthem]

Respect & Freedom!

[ReligiousFiction]

WELL DONE! This video is well made and fascinating. Great visuals, quotes, music, narration. Favorited.

I think the only possibly weak point is the statement "there are no religious leaders who have ever contributed intellectual achievements to mankind." I guess there are a lot of terms that need to be defined in that statement for me to understand it.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@ReligiousFiction

As a Poet, I am prone to exaggeration. Still, it might be easier if u give me a religious leader and their intellectual acheivement that benefits mankind.

[claudalegriffieth]

Thank you for your enlightenment....

[MtlRedAtheist]

Thanks for taking the time. Great vid!

[APH0risma]

Absolutely yes!! I still have to dig up biographies about many of the people you mentioned here - I have read very few books written by black African American, such as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and the poet Phillis Wheatley! Thanks for giving you personal touch about here, I love the mural!!

[kilophes]

 Im not black but Black people are fuckin COOL!

=) I have like 3-4 black friends not a lot but they are smart people for sure.

And funny.

Slavery is WRONG!

[weedap]

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Great video! Very well done!

[NegativeNick]

I would love to see a film about why so many blacks in the us are religious and why so few are atheists

[rationalwarrior]

This is a great video brother! I'm sooo happy to see yet another African American, such as myself, shaking off the chains of mental slavery that is religion!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@rationalwarrior

Butterfly McQueen would be proud of your words. So am I. Thanks.

[LabiaNymph]

Oh and love the boots!

[LabiaNymph]

Cool, didn't know that about Butterfly McQueen.

[Godlesspanther]

I can appreciate the research that went into this project. Superb job, informative, and inspiring. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Maybe you can get funded to do a major project on this. Yeah, I know, getting the funds would be a major project in the first place LOL.

[Farkous101]

Interesting perspective, among so many hidden facts about religion! Thank you!! And I love all the art on the wall!!

[beradification]

2:21 good quote

[Raitan2006]

Love the concept and the visuals, but I would definitely leave out Larry Elder (Thomas Sowel too) since I consider neither GREAT African Americans or freethinkers...to me they are carrying water for the Man to help keep down their own people...no free thought involved there, imo

[JesusSavesAtCitibank]

Nice vid!

Though you sadly omitted Neil deGrasse Tyson from this vid, he's such a complicated person with so much information about him that you could do an entire video on him. He's in my top 10 of favorite atheists/freethinkers alive today.

/watch?v=oI8bSow3MOY

/watch?v=KEeBPSvcNZQ

"The most I learn about the universe, the less convinced I am that there's any sort of benevolent force that has anything to do with it, at all."

— Neil deGrasse Tyson

[frid9999]

A great little film! So Favorited.

[DarkMatter2525]

Good vid. I especially like Butterfly McQueen's 2nd quote. Though I see someone has already mentioned Neil Degrasse Tyson in the comments, I would just like to second that...I love that guy. We need more like him, making science popular and fun.

[garybooker]

There is nothing great or freethinking about Larry Elder. He is an infactual, hatemongering, self-loathing bigot. It takes more than being an atheist to deserve the title of freethinker.

[chuckgoecke]

Watching Morgan Freeman's recent science series, "Through the Wormhole" makes me think this great tradition is continuing in good hands.

[GrenGoddess]

Thanks for posting this :) *sends hug through computer screen* LOL!

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@GrenGoddess

Thank you Goddess ... how sweet u r.

[GrenGoddess]

I am sooooo proud of you! It has boggled my mind how my fellow blacks or even other women could support religion especially when it has been the main reason for abuse, dehumanization, slavery and murder towards those groups. I cannot wait to see you add onto this documentary. Maybe even include the futre black freethinkers/atheists/humantar­ians of today! I am proud of be one of them :) I hope other black people have the courage to follow suit! Just say NO to god and religion :)

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@TheXavierLee

Yes, I could not confirm religious views of either. They r included because of their Libertarian social and political views ... which r generally views of a Freethinker. If anyone can confirm that they are religious ... I will take the vid down and edit.

[arzoyan]

Capitalism is the abstract process of Capital accumulation and concentration enslaving immense humanity in the monetary serfdom for Minority interest. Wage Slavery is the cheaper version of outright Slavery of Humanity for this tyranical PRIVATE PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP of alienation,exploitation and suffering. We need to Share the Earth for our common needs and well being in cooperation and harmony within and without. Capitalism in any guise is evil

[KALELis113]

Why Larry Elder is included in this list of great individuals I'll never know. I could of sworn he was a christian conservative. Even if he's not religious, he's hardly a freethinker in the truest sense of the word. All he does is spew out the same nonsense that conservatives do, hardly someone to admire.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@KALELis113

If his Christian views are confirmed ... I'll leave him out next time. As a Libertarian, he was included.

[cosmos11]

Wonderful video and very informative. I understand you were speaking of freethinking African Americans of the past, but I had to mention one of my favorite modern day freethinkers, astrophysicist, and brilliant minds who happens to be African American, Niel deGrasse Tyson. Humanity would be less enlightened were it not for this great American scientist and freethinker.

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@cosmos11

I knew I would leave someone out. Cause I need research help!! It was BIG job. I'll get Neil down the road somewhere.

[cosmos11]

@FreethinkerChronicle That's okay, it's a wonderful video. Thanks for posting it :)

[apollomiami83]

True Indeed Cosmos. A lot of African Americans would be ignorant to our ancient history if it wasn't for black Freethinkers of the Harlem Renaissance Era who were heavily involved in the Afrocentric movements. Atheist like Dr. John G Jackson wrote about black Egyptians e.t.c.

[CosmicSeaman]

Excellent video. 

[AuntieDiluvian]

That was superb. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[KasparHauser4]

Paul Robeson?

[FreethinkerChronicle]

@KasparHauser4

I need help? Maybe a part 2 is coming. Or, a feature length documentary ...

[anubis2814]

very very good