Good Morning Everyone!
On behalf of the BN Team, I would like to wish you all a happy day today. This has been another exciting year for us; for those of you who aren’t aware, we are more than an online entity. BN is a very active offline, and we encourage in person interaction as much as possible. Here in the Atlanta area, we host a variety of events – from our monthly General Meetings, to movie and bowling outings, as well as special lectures and presentations. We also table at the American Atheists National Convention, WRFG’s annual Block Party celebration, and this was our first year at the Atlanta Pride festivities. There are also established BN groups in Orlando, Dallas and Detroit, which host similar gatherings, and we look forward to keeping you informed about those activities as well. Also, there are many freethought groups throughout the U.S. and internationally, and we encourage you to participate with those groups as well.
We understand very well how isolating and frustrating being a nonbeliever can be. However, that doesn’t need to be a permanent state of being. And in helping to establish connections, we challenge each other to overcome past obstacles in order to evolve and progress towards a better existence. Religion is often not the only form of indoctrination we must overcome, and this is something that takes help from others, and strength from within. There must be a willingness on each of our parts to reflect and be honest about what we can do better for ourselves – whether it be physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s often a hard task, but an important one – especially for our own growth and development.
In the almost 3 years of our existence, I have received a substantial amount of feedback stating the BN has been a monumental influence in the lives of many individuals. There have been meaningful professional and personal relationships established as a result of the connections we foster, and this is something I am not only proud of, but also grateful for. And it has been because of your support, encouragement and participation that this is possible. We look forward to taking this to higher levels in the years to come.
In closing, I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for being part of the BN family. Please visit our website at http://www.blacknonbelievers.org for more information. The annual New Year’s Eve Bash is almost here, and we sincerely hope you will consider bringing in 2014 with us. Continue to enjoy the rest of this holiday season, and always remember that you are never alone.
Sincerely,
Mandisa L. Thomas
President
Black Nonbelievers, Inc.
“Walking by Sight, NOT Faith!”