Sikivu Hutchinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sikivu Hutchinson
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Sikivu Hutchinson, 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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| Institutions | USC Center for Feminist Research |
Sikivu Hutchinson is an American writer, playwright, director, and musician. She writes about important topics like feminism (equal rights for all genders), racial justice (fairness for all races), and LGBTQIA+ rights (equal rights for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities). She also explores humanism (a way of thinking that focuses on human values and reason) and atheism (not believing in a god).
Sikivu Hutchinson has written several books. These include Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical (2020) and Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars (2011). Her book Moral Combat was the first book about atheism written by an African-American woman. She has also written plays like "White Nights, Black Paradise" and "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic." "Rock 'n' Roll Heretic" was even nominated for an award in 2023. Sikivu Hutchinson has received awards for her work, including Secular Woman of the Year in 2013 and Harvard's Humanist of the Year award in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sikivu Hutchinson comes from a family of writers. Her grandfather, Earl Hutchinson Sr., and her father, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, are both authors. She studied at New York University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Performance Studies in 1999.
Early Career and Teaching
Sikivu Hutchinson has written articles for many well-known publications. These include The Huffington Post, The Feminist Wire, and The L.A. Times. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Humanist Studies. She is part of the Speakers Bureau at the Secular Student Alliance. This means she gives talks to students about her ideas.
She has taught at several universities. These include the California Institute of the Arts, UCLA, and Western Washington University. She taught subjects like women's studies and urban studies. She also helps write for the Black Skeptics blog.
About Moral Combat
In her book Moral Combat, Sikivu Hutchinson looks at important ideas. She discusses how humanism, feminism, and social justice are connected. She also writes about why humanism is important for young people's education. The book talks about how some religious groups have pushed back against fair public policies.
Hutchinson also explores how atheists of color have challenged the "New Atheist" movement. She believes this movement sometimes focuses too much on science and not enough on social fairness. Her book highlights the voices of African American non-believers. It helps readers understand their experiences across the country.
Black Skeptics Group
Sikivu Hutchinson started the Black Skeptics group in March 2010. She explained that she created the group because African-American non-believers needed a community. She wanted them to have a place to connect in person. She believes many black non-believers are online. However, it is important for them to find a "sanctuary" from very religious environments. The group was featured in an article in 2012. The article talked about how more African Americans were choosing atheism.
Views on Society and Humanism
Diversity in Non-Religious Groups
Sikivu Hutchinson believes that black women who do not believe in God are sometimes seen as "traitors." This is because they are expected to uphold cultural and religious traditions. Much of her work focuses on the history of African-American secular humanist thought. She explores its role in the fight for black liberation.
Hutchinson also challenges the traditional views of some Black Churches. She speaks up for gay rights and women's rights. She has pointed out that non-religious movements often lack diversity. She champions including anti-racism, anti-sexism, and anti-heterosexism in these groups. She writes a lot about how freethought and secular humanism help black women gain freedom and fairness.
Understanding Humanism
Hutchinson supports a strong form of humanism. This idea rejects social hierarchies based on race, gender, or class. She believes these hierarchies harm the human rights of people who are oppressed. For communities of color, this type of humanism helps non-believers feel seen and valued. It challenges the idea that morality only comes from certain religious beliefs.
Radical humanism says there is no single way to be black or Latino. It also rejects the idea that women and the LGBT community are less important. Hutchinson has argued for a humanism that connects to different cultures. It should focus on the real-life experiences and histories of diverse communities. She believes that her work as a humanist is deeply connected to her other identities.
Billboard Campaign
In 2012, Sikivu Hutchinson was part of a national billboard campaign. This campaign featured well-known black non-believers. It was launched by African Americans for Humanism. Her image was paired with the author Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston was a folklorist who wrote about being a skeptic in her essay "Religion."
See also
In Spanish: Sikivu Hutchinson para niños
