About this event:
In Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition, Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad examines the distinctive features of Black-identifying Buddhist practitioners, arguing that Black Buddhists interpret Buddhist teachings in ways that mesh with Black radical thought. Her presentations make the case that given their experiences with racism—both in the larger society and also within largely white-oriented Buddhist organizations—African-based teachings are central for illuminating the Buddha’s wisdom for people of African descent.
Drawing on interviews with forty Black Buddhist teachers and practitioners, Vesely-Flad argues that Buddhist teachings as practiced by Black Americans emphasize different aspects of the religion than do those in convert Buddhist communities, focusing more on devotional practices to ancestors and community uplift.
Location and schedule:
The event is online-only via Zoom. OPEN TO ALL
August 23, 2025 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm Eastern Time (Click here for a time converter.)
Fees:
The Soto Zen Buddhist Association relies on the generosity of its supporters to offer programming. All fees offered through registration will be shared with speakers and panelists. We suggest a sliding scale registration fee of $10-15 for online participation. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
Meet the Speaker:
Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad is a Buddhist scholar and longtime vipassana practitioner whose work bridges Critical Race Theory, social ethics, and contemplative traditions. Practicing in the Insight tradition since 2006, her scholarship is deeply inspired by Black dharma teachers and shaped by years of grassroots activism to end mass incarceration. She is the author of Racial Purity and Dangerous Bodies (Fortress Press, 2017) and Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation (NYU Press, 2022), which brings the voices of more than 70 Black dharma teachers and practitioners to the center of American Buddhism.
Her forthcoming book, The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde (North Atlantic Books, 2025), explores the liberatory teachings of these iconic writers through a Buddhist lens. Follow her on Instagram: @blackbuddhiststudies.
