Sikivu Hutchinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sikivu Hutchinson
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Sikivu Hutchinson in 2010
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United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | UCLA, NYU |
| Known for | Author of
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | USC Center for Feminist Research |
Sikivu Hutchinson is an American writer, playwright, and musician. She is known for her work on important social topics like feminism (the belief in equal rights for women), racial justice, and LGBTQIA+ rights. She also writes about humanism, which is a way of thinking that focuses on human values and reason instead of religion, and atheism, which is the lack of belief in gods.
Hutchinson has written several books, including:
- Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical (2020)
- White Nights, Black Paradise (2015)
- Godless Americana: Race and Religious Rebels (2013)
- Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars (2011)
Her book Moral Combat was the first book about atheism ever published by an African-American woman. She has also written plays, such as "White Nights, Black Paradise" and "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic." For her work, she has won many awards, including being named Secular Woman of the Year in 2013 and receiving Harvard's Humanist of the Year award in 2020.
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Early Life and Career
Sikivu Hutchinson comes from a family of writers. Her father, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, and her grandfather, Earl Hutchinson Sr., are both authors. She earned her Ph.D. from New York University in 1999.
Hutchinson has written for many well-known publications, including The Huffington Post, The L.A. Times, and The Washington Post. She is also the founder of the Women's Leadership Project, a program that helps girls of color in South Los Angeles. She has taught at several universities, including UCLA and the California Institute of the Arts.
Her Book Moral Combat
In her 2011 book, Moral Combat, Hutchinson shared her ideas on several topics. She wrote about how she believed some religious groups were using the idea of civil rights for their own political goals. She also explored the connections between humanism, feminism, and fighting for social justice.
Hutchinson also wrote about the need for humanism in schools. She challenged a movement called "New Atheism," arguing that it focused too much on science and not enough on fairness for all people. She pointed out that many African-American communities are deeply religious. She also highlighted the work of writer Nella Larsen as an important example of Black feminist humanist thinking. The book also shares the stories of Black atheists from all over the country.
Black Skeptics Group
In 2010, Hutchinson started the Black Skeptics group. She said she created it because Black non-believers needed a community where they could connect with each other in person. She felt it was important for them to have a "sanctuary from the hyper-religiosity that African-Americans are steeped in." This means she wanted to create a safe space away from the strong religious focus in many Black communities.
Political Views
Hutchinson has spoken out about many issues, especially related to race, gender, and religion.
Diversity in Skepticism
Hutchinson has said that the community of non-believers, or skeptics, needs to be more diverse. She believes it has not paid enough attention to the problem of institutional racism (racism that is built into society's rules and systems). She has worked to make sure that the fight against racism and sexism is a key part of humanism.
She has also written about how important it is for Black women to have the freedom to think for themselves, without religious pressure. She challenges the idea that Black women must be religious to be part of their culture.
In 2016, Hutchinson pointed out that when two large secular groups joined together, their board of directors was all white. She used this as an example of the lack of diversity in the movement.
Ideas on Humanism
Hutchinson believes in a type of humanism that fights for equality for all people. She argues that systems based on race, gender, or class are unfair and harm people's human rights. For her, humanism is a powerful tool for Black people and other people of color to be seen and respected.
She believes that humanism should focus on the real-life experiences and histories of different communities. She argues against the idea of being "colorblind," saying that we need to recognize and address the unique challenges that people of color face.
Billboard Campaign
In 2012, Hutchinson was part of a national billboard campaign. The campaign featured well-known Black non-believers. Her picture was shown next to the author Zora Neale Hurston, who was also known for being a skeptic.
See also
In Spanish: Sikivu Hutchinson para niños
