Sikivu Hutchinson

[[File:Dr Sikivu Hutchinson-This Far by Faith-Race Traitors, Gender Apostates and Atheism Question.JPG|thumb|right|165px|Hutchinson, speaking at the [[Center for Inquiry]] in 2010]]
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'''Sikivu Hutchinson''' is a [[secular humanist]] activist involved in the promotion of [[atheism]], [[skepticism]], and [[social justice]] issues such as [[feminism]]. She holds a Ph.D. in performance studies from New York University and has taught courses on women's studies, cultural studies, urban studies, and education at UCLA, the California Institute of the Arts, and Western Washington University. Her essays have been published in a number of magazines and online venues including ''Social Text'', ''California English'', ''Black Agenda Report'', ''American Atheist Magazine'', ''New Humanist'', and [[Richard Dawkins|richarddawkins.net]]. She is also a commentator for the [[Pacifica Radio]] stations KPFK (Los Angeles) and WBAI (New York) and a contributor to [[Freethought Blogs]]' Black Skeptics blog.<ref>[http://www.secularstudents.org/sikivu Sikivu Hutchinson profile], Secular Student Alliance</ref>

==''Moral Combat''==
In 2011, Hutchinson published ''Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars''. The book looks at the intersection of [[religion]], [[secularism]], race, [[gender]], [[sexual orientation]], and class in America. Hutchinson explains how black churches provided a bulwark against [[white supremacy]] and a means of organization and mobilization during the [[Civil Rights]] era. However, she criticizes black churches for their shift in political orientation during recent times. According to Hutchinson, many black religious leaders have hopped in bed with the [[Religious Right]], promoting [[anti-abortion]] and anti-[[LGBT]] policies and perpetuating [[sexism]] and [[homophobia]]. She discusses how renouncing religion is seen as renouncing the black identity within the [[African-American]] community and calls for secular humanist organizations to help fill the role that these churches once played in promoting [[social justice]]. She also criticizes the [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] for their [[scientism]], which blinds them to a number of social and political issues surrounding religion and helps to reproduce oppressive hierarchies within secular movements.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/blackskeptics/2012/06/21/norm-allen-on-moral-combat-black-atheists-gender-politics-and-the-values-wars/ Norm Allen on Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics and the Values Wars], Black Skeptics</ref> Hutchinson has reiterated these criticisms in a number of articles and essays.<ref>[http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/the-white-stuff.html The White Stuff], Daylight Atheism</ref><ref>[http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/rd10q/4125/to_be_atheist,_feminist,_and_black To Be Atheist, Feminist, and Black], Religion Dispatches</ref><ref>[http://thenewhumanism.org/authors/sikivu-hutchinson/articles/the-forked-road-ahead Forked Road Ahead], ''The New Humanism''</ref>

==''Godless Americana''==
''Godless Americana'', published in 2013, is an exploration of recent social trends in religion. It concentrates on the relationship between [[right-wing]] [[evangelical Christianity]] and the Black church. Hutchinson argues that a right-wing backlash is driving more people of color to renounce religion altogether.

==Publications==
*'' Imagining Transit: Race, Gender, and Transportation Politics in Los Angeles'' (2003) [[Special:Booksources/978-0820455860|ISBN 978-0578071862]]
*'' Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars'' (2011) [[Special:Booksources/978-0578071862|ISBN 978-0578071862]]
*'' Godless Americana'' (2013) [[Special:Booksources/978-0615586106|ISBN 978-0615586106]]

==External links==
*[http://www.blackfemlens.org/ blackfemlens] (personal blog)
*[http://freethoughtblogs.com/blackskeptics Black Skeptics] (contributor)
*[http://www.blackagendareport.com/blog/10248 Black Agenda Report] (contributor)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutchinson, Sikivu}}
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Left-wing activists]]
[[Category:Feminists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Radio]]
[[Category:Secularism]]
[[Category:Skeptics]]

Categories: Atheists, California, Left-wing activists, Feminists, Living people, Radio, Secularism, Skeptics