The year 2003 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the lifting of the ban excluding black members from the priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now available in paperback, the essays collected in Newell G. Bringhurst and Darron T. Smith's "Black and Mormon" look at the mechanisms used to keep blacks from full participation in the church, the motives behind the ban, and the kinds of changes that have - and have not - taken place within the church since the revelation responsible for its end.
Black and Mormon
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In 1978, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reversed a longstanding ban by granting the lay priesthood to all worthy men, regardless of race. In this book, eight scholars weigh in on the history of the ban, the present role of African-Americans in Mormon life and the residue of earlier racism. The editors claim that despite the 1978 revelation, the Church has done little to distance itself from damaging folk doctrines of the past, and "needs to forthrightly confront its past history of racial exclusion and discrimination." The book's best essays are Alma Allred's fascinating analysis of racial themes in LDS scripture; Armand Mauss's summary of post-1978 developments; and Ken Driggs's on-the-ground report of a successful, racially mixed Mormon congregation in Atlanta. Like other scholarly anthologies on narrow topics, this collection contains some repetition of ideas, case reports and anecdotes, but it is one of the most far-reaching studies of black Mormons to date.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Bringhurst and Smith have edited an outstanding series of essays on the problems of racism among the Mormons and the exclusion of African American men from the priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
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More About the Author
Dr. Darron T. Smith is a frequent political and cultural commentator on various issues of U.S. based issues of race, racism, and discrimination in forums ranging from Religion Dispatches, The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed to ESPN's Outside the Lines. His research spans a wide myriad of topics on race including healthcare disparities, Religious studies, Race & Sports, and Race, Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on health care workforce discrimination involving African American physicians and physician assistants. He is the co-author of White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption and co-editor of Black and Mormon. His current book, The Truth About the Honor Code: When Race & Religion Collide is scheduled for release in 2013.
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14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By lordhoot
Format:Paperback
Black and Mormon proves to be a highly interesting book that relates directly with the LDS and their relationship with the black people of the United States throughout their history. The key element of this book lies around then President Kimball's revelation that blacks who have been denied priesthood rites by their church due to their ethnic heritage, was finally granted that right on 8 June 1978. This book is collection of essays that deals with the priesthood ban imposed by the LDS leadership during the late 1840s, its effects on the black members and after the banning have been removed, how that racist past still affected the church today.
All essays written here proves to be well written, well research and highly informative to the subject at hand. Some of the authors are black LDS members and their words and perceptions may surprise many of the white LDS members who may read this book. Many of the essays overlapped each other due to the narrow subject matter and sometimes, that helped to reinforced the information. The book is only 172 pages and that includes the index and footnotes pages.
It is no great secret that LDS practiced overt racism toward their black members before the ban was lifted and relied on old near-mythological doctrines to denied many of their black membership, the full fellowship into their ranks. The book explained these doctrines very clearly and how they became part of the accepted practice of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until that fateful day in June 1978.
The book also sadly reflects on LDS refusal to confront their own racist history and how such attitude hampered their efforts to deal with these problems they have with their non-white members - especially blacks. Adjustment of white Mormons in accepting blacks as full members have not been easy and its no small wonder that many blacks still feel alienated in their own church. Ironically, the book pointed out that like polygamy, racist anti-black doctrines still lies within the framework of the LDS church. LDS' refusal to deal or remove these doctrines may trouble many. This means that only their policies that has changed, not their doctrines. This means that LDS could easily restore polygamy or ban blacks from priesthood anytime in the future if the political and social situation allow them so.
Overall, a very informative book that provides a lot of information about the racial relationship between LDS and the black people, especially those within their own ranks. Book come highly recommended as an introduction to this subject matter for further reading.
All essays written here proves to be well written, well research and highly informative to the subject at hand. Some of the authors are black LDS members and their words and perceptions may surprise many of the white LDS members who may read this book. Many of the essays overlapped each other due to the narrow subject matter and sometimes, that helped to reinforced the information. The book is only 172 pages and that includes the index and footnotes pages.
It is no great secret that LDS practiced overt racism toward their black members before the ban was lifted and relied on old near-mythological doctrines to denied many of their black membership, the full fellowship into their ranks. The book explained these doctrines very clearly and how they became part of the accepted practice of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until that fateful day in June 1978.
The book also sadly reflects on LDS refusal to confront their own racist history and how such attitude hampered their efforts to deal with these problems they have with their non-white members - especially blacks. Adjustment of white Mormons in accepting blacks as full members have not been easy and its no small wonder that many blacks still feel alienated in their own church. Ironically, the book pointed out that like polygamy, racist anti-black doctrines still lies within the framework of the LDS church. LDS' refusal to deal or remove these doctrines may trouble many. This means that only their policies that has changed, not their doctrines. This means that LDS could easily restore polygamy or ban blacks from priesthood anytime in the future if the political and social situation allow them so.
Overall, a very informative book that provides a lot of information about the racial relationship between LDS and the black people, especially those within their own ranks. Book come highly recommended as an introduction to this subject matter for further reading.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
About the Author, imo an excellent, impressive, and sensitive man
December 19, 2011
By Davers
Format:Paperback
I knew Darron as Elder Smith in Michigan. We were both missionaries in the Saginaw area at the same time. He was an awesome missionary, and I was frequently impressed with him and how he brought his preexisting talents into play (including his martial arts expertise) to forward the word of God one way or another. I remember well that he had an exceptional way with people and was a perfect example of a true LDS Saint in my opinion.
Sadly for me, it seemed he did not think so highly of me. I was shocked and really honestly confused when he called me a racist to my face. I never understood what I had done or said or how I acted, if I had acted any differently around him than anyone else, to be accused of such a repugnant title. I've thought about that many many times since then (25 years ago) as the description hurt me very much and has always been so polar opposite to how anyone else has described me before then, and since, regardless of their race/ethic/religion/politics. I am still quite sorry that I gave him that impression.
I can only conclude that others have probably given him that impression throughout his life despite (like me) having also held him in the highest regard as a human being and a child of God, bar none.
That said, I am so grateful that his testimony in the gospel is still so firm. It has also meant so much to me, and of course that does not include the mormon-folklore promoted by Alvin R Dyer or Mark E Petersen or others ... falsehoods that are not in harmony with revelations through Joseph Smith. I hope someday when we slough off this mortal shell that he can look upon my bared soul and see that whatever he felt earned me that title when he and I were acquainted is not, will not, be there in any way. I hope he is similarly surprised at that great reckoning day when he sees the hearts of others he's so effortlessly labeled as racist in the past.
In the meantime I applaud his excellent effort to set at right many of these wrongs ... the church needs it and I deeply agree with much of what he says here and have made similar efforts myself online and in quorum meetings and such - not because of what Elder Smith called me but because I find racism repugnant.
Nobody can control how a reader or listener (be it Darron Smith or anyone else) chooses to interpret another one's words. The fact is that there are racists in our church, and the rest of us should correct them vehemently, and do our best when speaking or doing to be sensitive, and much more effort needs to be made by LDS leadership in that respect. The church does also need to come out and admit that wrongs have been done, and that what's most important is that the church comes clean in matters where some of it's leaders said racist and claimed false teachings while others who knew better looked the other way and allowed folklore to muddy up the true and fair nature of the revealed gospel.
There is much to learn from this about the nature of revelation and the priesthood through the study of these things ... and much good can be done by having LDS leaders explain these things to the membership rather than saying "that was in the past, let's move on". That might make the media go away, but it doesn't serve justice. It does seem though that for many there is little that can ever be said that will make the current state of affairs right enough. And that is understandable. It still needs to be done, and I suspect it will be ... it will take time ... I hope not much longer.
I look forward to the day when the church leaders more clearly identify that things like a changing of skin color when Nephites embraced a ferocious lifestyle is not racial (genetic) but the natural, yet foretold, consequence of a sun-basking lifestyle (the relationship is of course intuitively scientifically obvious and God works by the scientific laws of nature than He created). Symbolism is everything (in all churches in fact) which is why Book of Mormon prophets spoke of it as they did, but some of the symbolism of the past simply does not have the proper place today that it did then. That is precisely why we need a prophet and modern day revelation as stated in Amos 3:7. That's what we received in 1978. Now, let's hope our prophet helps right these wrongs more aggressively instead of just saying "let's leave that in the past". The gospel is too great for that to be the end all be all.
Sadly for me, it seemed he did not think so highly of me. I was shocked and really honestly confused when he called me a racist to my face. I never understood what I had done or said or how I acted, if I had acted any differently around him than anyone else, to be accused of such a repugnant title. I've thought about that many many times since then (25 years ago) as the description hurt me very much and has always been so polar opposite to how anyone else has described me before then, and since, regardless of their race/ethic/religion/politics. I am still quite sorry that I gave him that impression.
I can only conclude that others have probably given him that impression throughout his life despite (like me) having also held him in the highest regard as a human being and a child of God, bar none.
That said, I am so grateful that his testimony in the gospel is still so firm. It has also meant so much to me, and of course that does not include the mormon-folklore promoted by Alvin R Dyer or Mark E Petersen or others ... falsehoods that are not in harmony with revelations through Joseph Smith. I hope someday when we slough off this mortal shell that he can look upon my bared soul and see that whatever he felt earned me that title when he and I were acquainted is not, will not, be there in any way. I hope he is similarly surprised at that great reckoning day when he sees the hearts of others he's so effortlessly labeled as racist in the past.
In the meantime I applaud his excellent effort to set at right many of these wrongs ... the church needs it and I deeply agree with much of what he says here and have made similar efforts myself online and in quorum meetings and such - not because of what Elder Smith called me but because I find racism repugnant.
Nobody can control how a reader or listener (be it Darron Smith or anyone else) chooses to interpret another one's words. The fact is that there are racists in our church, and the rest of us should correct them vehemently, and do our best when speaking or doing to be sensitive, and much more effort needs to be made by LDS leadership in that respect. The church does also need to come out and admit that wrongs have been done, and that what's most important is that the church comes clean in matters where some of it's leaders said racist and claimed false teachings while others who knew better looked the other way and allowed folklore to muddy up the true and fair nature of the revealed gospel.
There is much to learn from this about the nature of revelation and the priesthood through the study of these things ... and much good can be done by having LDS leaders explain these things to the membership rather than saying "that was in the past, let's move on". That might make the media go away, but it doesn't serve justice. It does seem though that for many there is little that can ever be said that will make the current state of affairs right enough. And that is understandable. It still needs to be done, and I suspect it will be ... it will take time ... I hope not much longer.
I look forward to the day when the church leaders more clearly identify that things like a changing of skin color when Nephites embraced a ferocious lifestyle is not racial (genetic) but the natural, yet foretold, consequence of a sun-basking lifestyle (the relationship is of course intuitively scientifically obvious and God works by the scientific laws of nature than He created). Symbolism is everything (in all churches in fact) which is why Book of Mormon prophets spoke of it as they did, but some of the symbolism of the past simply does not have the proper place today that it did then. That is precisely why we need a prophet and modern day revelation as stated in Amos 3:7. That's what we received in 1978. Now, let's hope our prophet helps right these wrongs more aggressively instead of just saying "let's leave that in the past". The gospel is too great for that to be the end all be all.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Should be read by all African-American members who question importance of race over faith. The answer should be quite obvious.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN EXCEPTIONALLY-INSIGHTFUL VOLUME ON A DIFFICULT SUBJECT
Newell Bringhurst is a past president of the Mormon History Association who teaches history and political science at the College of the Sequoias in visalia, California. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Steven H. Propp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful discussion
These articles were so insightful on being African American in a society that runs everything by white standards and then it delves deeper into how that affects African Americans... Read more
Published on February 21, 2010 by Heather Crozier
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