(no subject)
Skeptifem: Bill Maher and the white dude privilege of new atheists/skeptics.
Pharyngula: The problem of the oblivious white male atheist.
I'm mostly link-dumping because I'm supposed to be doing other things, but:
On a happier note, the linking eventually traces back to an interview with Sikivu Hutchinson. Although, again, I can't help but notice that the stuff that she is discussing in that interview -- the experience of being a black atheist in the atheist community -- is being ignored in the links above.
Pharyngula: The problem of the oblivious white male atheist.
I'm mostly link-dumping because I'm supposed to be doing other things, but:
- I agree with the bones of skeptifem's critique about casual misogyny and racism passing unremarked, and the degree of privilege-defending pushback you see from commenters (as demonstrated by the commenters at RichardDawkins.net). Yay, skeptifem, and more, please!
- When Pharyngula says, "The problem isn't dismissal. It's casual disregard," I can't help but notice that he is dismissing skeptifem's point. Fortunately, there seem to be some people arguing in the comments that he missed the boat here.
- Also, he called for suggestions for atheist speakers who aren't white males; as near as I can tell all the recommendations made so far, excepting Hirsi Ali, are white women. (That comment thread is moving fast: this is already outdated. But not by much.)
On a happier note, the linking eventually traces back to an interview with Sikivu Hutchinson. Although, again, I can't help but notice that the stuff that she is discussing in that interview -- the experience of being a black atheist in the atheist community -- is being ignored in the links above.