Churches' role hailed in lives of early Utah blacks

The religious experience of African-Americans in Utah began as one of struggle — born by means of segregation — yet strengthened through the faith and dedication of their churches. The vitality of these holy houses of worship provided the sense of community that African-Americans couldn't get anywhere else.

The legacy of three of the first African-American churches in Utah was recounted by the Rev. France A. Davis at the 55th Annual Utah State History Conference to account for the early religious experience of African-Americans in Utah.

The first African-Americans to arrive in the valley were two trappers in the early nineteenth century before Brigham Young and the pioneers arrived, said Davis. Three African-American slaves — Green Flake, Hark Lay and Oscar Crosby would later cross the plains with the Mormon pioneers.

The end of slavery saw the exclusion of African-Americans from churches, said Davis. Through this exclusion emerged new churches for African-American congregations. Utah became the home to three major worshipping groups — the Churches of God in Christ, the Calvary Baptist Church and the Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church. Even a few were numbered among the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Davis.

These churches provided refuge for their members. Places of study and rejoicing provided new opportunities for the growing African-American communities in Utah — promoting education and the printing of newspapers that "sought to highlight the positive news about African-American activities and churches," as other papers weren't doing so, said Davis.

These churches gave early African-American settlers the opportunity to create their own communities and exercise their beliefs. "Without the African-American (religious) experience in Utah," said Davis, "African Americans would have no center of community ... moral compass, educational foundation and no spiritual refuge."

---

E-mail: nhale@desnews.com