Black and Mormon

Black and Mormon is a 2004 scholarly collection examining the complex relationship between Black people and the Mormon Church. The book contains eight essays by different authors exploring historical policies, personal experiences, and sociological perspectives. The collection addresses key topics including early Mormon views on slavery, the priesthood ban that excluded Black members until 1978, and the ongoing challenges of racial integration within the LDS church. Each chapter takes on a distinct aspect of the Black Mormon experience, from historical analysis to contemporary case studies in places like Atlanta. Through academic research and first-hand accounts, the book documents both institutional policies and individual stories spanning multiple generations of Black Latter-day Saints. The work incorporates perspectives from both inside and outside the faith tradition. This anthology represents an important contribution to religious studies, offering insights into how an American faith institution has grappled with race relations, doctrinal evolution, and social change over time.

Black and Mormon receives consistent 4-star ratings for its examination of race within the LDS church. Readers report the book presents multiple perspectives while maintaining academic rigor. What Readers Liked: - Balanced treatment of complex historical issues - Clear writing style accessible to non-academics - Inclusion of both believing Mormon and non-Mormon scholars - Documentation and primary sources What Readers Disliked: - Some essays more engaging than others - A few readers wanted more personal narratives - Limited coverage of contemporary issues Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Sample Reader Comments: "Strong scholarship without being overly academic" - Goodreads reviewer "Important perspectives but uneven quality between chapters" - Amazon reviewer "Worth reading for both LDS members and those interested in American religious history" - LibraryThing review Several readers noted the book works best as a starting point for further research rather than a comprehensive examination.

Race and the Making of the Mormon People by Max Perry Mueller This historical examination traces how the Mormon faith constructed racial identity from its founding through the 19th century.

Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness by W. Paul Reeve The book documents how Mormons navigated their own racial status in American society while developing policies toward other racial groups.

For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism by Russell W. Stevenson This research chronicles the relationship between black people and the Mormon church from 1830 to the present across multiple continents.

Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism by Newell G. Bringhurst The text analyzes the evolution of Mormon racial policies and attitudes from the church's founding through the 1978 revelation on priesthood.

The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History by Matthew L. Harris, Newell G. Bringhurst This compilation presents primary source documents that reveal the development and changes in Mormon policies regarding race and priesthood restrictions.

🔹 The 1978 revelation allowing Black men to hold the Mormon priesthood came after significant pressure from both civil rights groups and internal Church members, including several prominent athletes at Brigham Young University. 🔹 Newell G. Bringhurst served as president of the Mormon History Association and has authored numerous works on Mormon racial history, including "Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism." 🔹 The Atlanta area, featured prominently in the book, has one of the largest concentrations of Black Mormon congregations in the United States, with some wards (congregations) being predominantly African American. 🔹 Prior to the 1978 revelation, several unofficial theological explanations for the priesthood ban circulated within Mormon culture, including the "Curse of Cain" theory, which the modern Church has officially disavowed. 🔹 The book reveals that during the early 1830s, before the priesthood ban was implemented, several Black men were ordained to the Mormon priesthood, including Elijah Abel, who served as a Seventy in the Church hierarchy.