How the Mormons Became White

How the Mormons Became White explores the complex racial dynamics surrounding the Mormon faith in 19th century America. W. Paul Reeve examines how mainstream Protestant America racialized Mormons as non-white outsiders, while Mormon leaders worked to establish their whiteness and respectability. The book traces key historical moments and controversies that shaped Mormon racial identity between 1830-1920. Reeve draws from extensive archival sources to document both external perceptions of Mormons and the faith's internal struggles with race. Through analysis of political cartoons, newspaper accounts, and religious texts, the work reveals the period's racial anxieties and power structures. The narrative follows Mormonism's transformation from a marginalized sect to an accepted American denomination. This history challenges assumptions about the fixed nature of racial categories while illuminating broader patterns of American identity formation. The work demonstrates how racial status served as currency in negotiations between religious minorities and mainstream society.

I apologize, but I cannot find enough reliable reader reviews specifically for "How the Mormons Became White" by W. Paul Reeve. This may be because you might be referring to his book "Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness" published in 2015, which explores similar themes. For that book: Readers appreciate the detailed historical research and documentation of how Mormons were once considered "racially inferior" by mainstream American society and their journey toward being considered "white." Many note the book's relevance to current discussions about race and religion. Common criticisms include dense academic writing style and occasional repetition of points. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (108 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (46 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Excellent scholarship that shows how Mormons were once racialized as not-quite-white and how they eventually gained white racial status in American society." - Goodreads reviewer

Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness by Max Perry Mueller This historical examination traces how Mormons navigated racial identity in 19th century America through religious doctrine and social positioning.

Making the White Man's Indian by Robert F. Berkhofer The book examines how white Americans constructed and imposed racial identities on Native Americans through cultural and political mechanisms.

Working Toward Whiteness by David R. Roediger This study explores how European immigrant groups transformed from racial outsiders to accepted white Americans in the early twentieth century.

How Jews Became White Folks and What That Says About Race in America by Karen Brodkin The text analyzes Jewish Americans' transition from racial outsiders to inclusion in white privilege through economic and social mobility.

The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter This comprehensive work traces the evolution of the concept of whiteness from ancient Greece through modern America.

🔹 The book explores how 19th-century Americans viewed Mormons as a racially distinct group, considering them "less than white" despite their European ancestry. 🔹 W. Paul Reeve is the Simmons Professor of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah and was the first person to hold this endowed chair position. 🔹 The book examines how early Mormon leaders actively worked to establish their whiteness through political, social, and religious means, eventually achieving mainstream American acceptance. 🔹 Early critics and cartoonists often depicted Mormons with darker skin and "foreign" features, associating them with other marginalized groups like Native Americans and African Americans. 🔹 The book won the 2015 Mormon History Association Best Book Award and helped establish a new framework for understanding race relations in Mormon history.