Belief and Nonbelief in the Black Community
Oct Program Meeting
Morrisville Historic (Former) Christian Church
Sunday, Nov 1 | 1:30-3:30 pm
Join us for our monthly program meeting. A dedicated time for us to gather together each month.
This month we’ll be joined in person by Candace R. M. Gorham, LCMHC, the President of the American Humanist Association
Black atheists, humanists, and nonbelievers have been increasing significantly in recent years. However, Black Americans remain the most religious demographic in the country. This talk will explore some of the history of religion in the black community, how things are changing, and the future of non-belief in the black community.
Candace is a licensed professional mental health counselor. A former ordained minister turned atheist-humanist activist, she now writes and speaks on the intersections of race, religion, and mental health. She holds a bachelor's in secondary English education from North Carolina Central University and a master's in mental health counseling from Wake Forest University (where she now teaches part-time in the counseling graduate program), and is currently pursuing an MBA at UNC Pembroke. Her clinical background spans in-home therapy, residential care, and agency leadership, and she also works as a behavioral health utilization manager for a major national insurer.
Candace entered the secular community by joining the Triangle Freethought Society (hey, that’s us!) and we will always claim her as one of us! She gained greater recognition with the release of her book The Ebony Exodus Project, which examined why Black women leave religion, and she has since authored On Death, Dying, and Disbelief and contributed to Women v. Religion.
She joined the AHA board in 2021, served as Vice President, and became President in 2024. She's based just down I40, in Greensboro, NC.
Meeting Agenda
Welcome
Member Recognition
Matthew’s Birthday!!!!!! (Webmaster’s privilege)
Business
Upcoming Events
Friendsgiving
Festivus
Committees Updates
TBD
Special Guest
Candace Gorham, AHA President
Our Program Meetings are open to the public, and we are interested in everyone’s input but the opinions of current members will weighted more heavily as the Board discusses the output of the meeting at their future Board meetings. We have various membership tiers, join today. This is not a time or place for evangelizing and harassment/discrimination will not be tolerated. We are an inclusive organization and anyone causing a disturbance or intentionally making others uncomfortable will be asked to leave.
2026 Program Meeting Schedule
Jan - Replaced by Heightened Scrutiny documentary viewing at the Carolina Theatre
Feb 8 - Guest Speaker - Siembra NC
March 1 - Guest Speakers - L&M Advocacy
April 18 - Advocacy Day Training - TFS Advocacy Co-Chairs, Madhavi & Leah
May 3 - Guest Speaker from Freedom From Religion Foundation - Dan Barker, Co-President
Jun 7 - Replaced by Picnic
July 12 - Guest Speaker from Triangle Skeptics - Jon Michael, ex-Ghost Hunter
Aug 2 - Replaced by Picnic
Sep 13 - Guest Speaker from No Nonsense Spirituality (YouTube Channel) - Britt Hartley
Oct 4 - Guest Speaker from the American Humanist Association (AHA) - Fish Stark, Executive Director
Nov 1 - Guest Speaker from AHA - Candace Gorham, MA, LCMHCS, President
Dec - Replaced by Festivus end-of-year dinner, Business Meeting, and Board Elections