Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness

Religion of a Different Color examines how race and Mormonism intersected in 19th century America. W. Paul Reeve analyzes how mainstream Protestant America racialized Mormons as less-than-white while simultaneously criticizing Mormon attitudes toward racial minorities. The book traces the evolution of Mormon racial identity from the church's founding through the early 20th century. Through extensive historical documentation, Reeve explores how Mormons faced discrimination and stereotyping that characterized them as physically and socially distinct from white Protestant Americans. The narrative follows Mormon leaders' efforts to combat these racial characterizations and establish their place in white American society. Reeve documents both external perceptions of Mormonism and the internal racial dynamics within the faith community during this pivotal period. This historical analysis provides insight into the complex relationship between religious identity, racial categorization, and the struggle for social acceptance in American society. The work demonstrates how racial frameworks shaped religious discrimination and how religious groups navigated racial hierarchies.

Readers note the book's detailed research and documentation of how Mormons were once viewed as racially distinct from white Americans, before working to establish themselves as white. Many appreciate the thorough examination of primary sources and historical context. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex racial dynamics - Extensive use of period newspapers and documents - Fresh perspective on Mormon racial history - Academic rigor while remaining readable Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - Academic tone can be dry - Limited coverage of modern implications - Could better address contemporary Mormon views Ratings: Goodreads: 4.28/5 (148 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (47 ratings) One reader called it "meticulous research that challenges assumptions about Mormon racial history." Another noted it "fills an important gap in understanding 19th century racial dynamics." Critics mentioned "too much focus on newspaper accounts" and "needed more analysis of current Mormon racial attitudes."

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🔹 Early anti-Mormon critics portrayed Latter-day Saints as a "new race," claiming their religious practices were transforming them physically into people of color - a notion that played into 19th-century racial anxieties. 🔹 W. Paul Reeve is a professor of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah and was the first person to hold this position when it was created in 2007. 🔹 The book won the Mormon History Association's Best Book Award and the John Whitmer Historical Association's Binkley-Bushman Award for Best Book in Mormon Studies. 🔹 During the 19th century, some Protestant Americans claimed Mormons were plotting with Native Americans and other racial minorities to overthrow the U.S. government - a conspiracy theory used to justify persecution. 🔹 The book explores how Mormons, initially viewed as racial outsiders, worked to establish themselves as white through various social and political strategies, including eventually restricting their priesthood to white men only.