'Why I am not a Christian' – humanist philosopher Bertrand Russell. Bertrand Russel died on this day 1970. One of the 20th century’s most influential public intellectuals, Russell was a logician, philosopher, activist, and lifelong humanist who believed that 'the good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.' In his famous 1927 lecture Why I Am Not a Christian, Russell set out a clear, compassionate, and rigorous critique of religion – rejecting superstition and absolutism, and argu

Extraordinary to watch the mind of the American humanist playwright Lorraine Hansberry at work here in 1960. A true talent and inspiration, Hansberry was the first black woman to have a play produced on Broadway – wonderful to see her passion shine through. Her most famous play, A Raisin in the Sun (which debuted in 1959), is a fearless commentary on racial discrimination, segregation, and the 'American dream'. It's a fantastic piece of drama, which you can watch in full on YouTube (link in comm