Atheist Slave Billboard Upsets Pennsylvania Residents

March 7th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

An atheist billboard firing back at Pennsylvania lawmakers has angered black residents in the city due to its depiction of an African slave with a metal collar around his neck.

The billboard features a passage from the Bible saying, “Slaves, obey your masters,” as a jab toward state lawmakers who recently passed a bill announcing 2012 as the Year of the Bible. The lawmakers suggest residents renew their faith in and knowledge of God to help the nation through it’s struggles, and according to the American Atheist website:

“The message this billboard conveys is the House of Representatives should not be celebrating a barbaric and Bronze Age book. We do not in any way condone slavery, but the Bible does. We have outgrown such hideous actions toward humanity.”

The sign sits in the city’s most racially diverse section in the Allison Hill neighborhood, and has caused African American leaders pause, calling the group the anti-christs and praying for their salvation. State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Chester, who is also a Baptist pastor and one of the co-signers of Year of the Bible legislation, said this campaign will only backfire and support the Bible-believers cause further. “This is going to encourage people to read the Bible. My master is Jesus Christ. I’m a slave to Christianity. I’m a slave to Christ.”

Last night, the billboard was vandalized and replaced this morning by an unrelated ad, which prompted the president of Pa. Nonbelievers to issue a statement of apology. Brian Fields said:

“I want to say that I’m truly sorry that many people have misunderstood this billboard. It was never our intention to use ‘race’ as our message itself — The point of our billboard was: The bible is NOT holy or moral as promoted by the Pa. House of Representatives in the ‘Year of the Bible.’ The bible was used as an excuse for many very bad things, including American slavery.We would have hoped this message was clearer to observers. In any case, the point is currently moot.”

Do you find the billboard offensive? What about the declaration of 2012 as the Year of the Bible, does that violate the separation of church and state?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

Tags:

, , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

← Older Comments
  • socialite

    What is wrong with getting people to think for themselves? Critical thinking will help solve some of if not all of our problems. Magic solves nothing! Church and state should be separate. What about the “Year of the Koran? Why only the christian bible?

  • http://www.facebook.com/onaje.asheber Onaje Asheber

    This billboard was right on it. Europeans use the Gun and Christianity to enslave, brainwash, steal, and murder Afrikan People! And is doing the same thing at this very moment. It is sad that some Black Folks do not want face the raw facts. But then many so-called Black Christians are the same as the White Oppressors.The can not beat em, join em, group.

  • Coko

    I dont know why everyone is talking about Africans forced into Christianity. Thats not what this billboard is about. It using an example to show that the bible is full of ideas that are ludacris (ex: slavery).

    • guest

      Off topic, but…some of us might find it ludicrous that people actually think the word is spelled “ludacris”. 

      Sorry, couldn’t resist…
      :-)

  • Mizzlady140

    I wish they would have put that billboard in South Central LA…sometimes we forget where we were as a people in this country. I am on Niether Side the the truth is the truth. But lets be real the bible has been rewritten…to justify slavery..it was used to destroy a race of people who were forced into that religion..and were not allowed to read and educate themselves…its a very disturbing image but it was real..

    • Khdixon65

      People are often much smarter than others want 2 blieve. Church and state should b seperate. We have all been made aware of what happens when they are combined.

  • Mizzlady140

    I wish they would have put that billboard in South Central LA…sometimes we forget where we were as a people in this country. I am on Niether Side the the truth is the truth. But lets be real the bible has been rewritten…to justify slavery..it was used to destroy a race of people who were forced into that religion..and were not allowed to read and educate themselves…its a very disturbing image but it was real..

  • 2true4u2c

    It is shameful to see such a thing, it proves one thing. Atheists have no respect for humanity! Atheists don’t believe in God but it’s clear they have full support of the Devil with there actions! You know what’s interesting, the Bible say the end of days would be like this. So I ask how could a false book be so right?

  • 2true4u2c

    It is shameful to see such a thing, it proves one thing. Atheists have no respect for humanity! Atheists don’t believe in God but it’s clear they have full support of the Devil with there actions! You know what’s interesting, the Bible say the end of days would be like this. So I ask how could a false book be so right?

    • Malik Blunt

      What are you talking about? those words are in the bible… Look it up.. The house of representatives are for politics, not about the bible and religion. Doing the year of the bible is putting church and state together. Which would be offensive towards those who don’t believe in a God. If you want to go on about Jesus, go to church, not the capitol building.

← Older Comments