Allen, Norm R. 1957–

(Norm R. Allen, Jr.)

PERSONAL: Born November 12, 1957, in Pittsburgh, PA; son of Norman Robert, Sr. (a legal aide) and Fayeverne (a postal worker; maiden name, Robinson) Allen. Ethnicity: "African-American." Education: Attended University of Pittsburgh and State University of New York at Buffalo. Politics: "Registered independent." Religion: "Secular humanist/freethinker." Hobbies and other interests: "Old-school rhythm and blues and jazz," the National Football League, travel.

ADDRESSES: Home—38 Dakota St., Apt. 3, Buffalo, NY 14216-2736. Office—Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst, NY 14228. E-mail—nallen@centerforinquiry.net.

CAREER: Center for Inquiry, Amherst, NY, writer, debater, and spokesperson. Council for Secular Humanism, deputy editor, book review editor, letters editor, and staff writer for Free Inquiry. Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1980–84; became sergeant.

WRITINGS:

African-American Humanism: An Anthology, Prometheus Books (Amherst, NY), 1991.

The Black Humanist Experience: An Alternative to Religion, Prometheus Books (Amherst, NY), 2003.

Contributor to books, including Toward a New Political Humanism, edited by Barry F. Seidman and Neil J. Murphy, 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: Norm R. Allen told CA: "My primary motivation for writing is to stimulate human-centered thought and activism. I was originally motivated because I understand the many ways in which religion sends out contradictory messages, thereby contributing to widespread misery. While acknowledging the good that many religions do, I believe it is necessary to unsparingly critique its many weaknesses. My major concern is black uplift.

"My early influences came from the devastating critiques of Christianity from the Nation of Islam, the Black Panthers, and other black militants. I was later influenced by black historians such as J.A. Rogers and by Afrocentric scholars. My greatest hero continues to be Malcolm X. I was inspired to write about the need for a human-centered worldview and freedom from the negative aspects of religion because no black person has come to prominence for doing so. Blacks need humanism as much as any other group.

"To write, I become obsessed with the subject. I try to think about it from every possible angle—pros, cons, good points, bad points, from the perspectives of victims and victimizers, men and women, et cetera. I try to organize the different points I want to make. I never worry about offending anyone's sensibilities, feelings, religion, or worldview. I strive to be intensely rational, and I try always to strive for objectivity and fairness. Someone once said that to be a great speaker you must first get into your subject. Then get your subject into you. Then get your subject into your audience. How true!"

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

ONLINE

Council for Secular Humanism Web Site, http://www.secularhumanism.org/ (February 26, 2005).