Humanism and Race

Abstract

Academic studies of humanism often ignore questions of race and both the existence and significance of non-white humanists. At the same time, scholarship on race and religion fails to consider humanist traditions. Through an analysis of work by literary critics, intellectual historians/philosophers, scholars of religious studies, and theologians this chapter calls for a greater attention to the intersection of race and humanism and posits three key points: scholars working in these fields must make greater use of archival sources and periodicals; explore the ideas and activism of white, black, Native American, and Latinx humanists; and carefully consider the influence of humanism throughout the African Diaspora on black humanism in the United States.