Being a black student at BYU can be difficult

PROVO — While attending Black History Month events at Brigham Young University this month, many black students have spoken out about their feelings on being a minority at the university — and issues that arise from being black and Mormon.

Of the 30,426 students enrolled at BYU, 158 are black, according to BYU statistics.

Black students speaking to the Deseret Morning News at a recent Black History Month presentation emphasized they have been treated very well at BYU — by faculty and students alike. But being a minority anywhere is difficult, they said.

Niiboi Amertev, 25, a junior from Ghana, said sometimes he feels white people in Utah don't feel comfortable around him, and he can tell by their body language. "Actions speak louder than words," Amertev said.

Barima Kwarteng, 20, a sophomore from Ghana, said most people at BYU simply don't have a lot of exposure to blacks, and they don't really understand black people.

"I get the impression they think I'm here to play sports," said Kwarteng, who is majoring in computer engineering.

Catherine Spruill, 27, of Steilacoom, Wash., a senior, said, "People make ignorant remarks. They're not worth remembering. We've been commanded to forgive. The easiest way to forgive something is to forget about it."

Some black students said they wish the school would recruit more blacks so they wouldn't be such a minority.

"There should be more outreach," said Noah Morris, 29, BYU's Black Student Union president and a junior born in Nigeria.

BYU does have a national multicultural student recruitment program called SOAR. It starts in eighth grade and steers students toward college preparation. It includes a weeklong summer session on campus, with classes including preparation for the SAT exam, said BYU spokeswoman Carri P. Jenkins.

During the past few weeks, BYU's Black Student Union hosted myriad events for Black History Month.

Ahmad Corbitt, a black member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who serves as director of the church's New York Office of Public and International Affairs, spoke to about 100 students on the struggle some members have with the priesthood limitation once practiced by the church. His talk referred to the church's decision in 1978 that black male members could hold the priesthood.

A dozen students and a few guests stayed almost an hour after the presentation to pepper Corbitt with questions and concerns regarding race and their religion.