The students didn't mention any specific problems at BYU but did say they don't appreciate the folklore that they said is sometimes spread by seminary teachers or church leaders regarding blacks in the church.

One example, the students said, is when people say blacks "sat on the fence," or weren't fully committed to Christ in the pre-mortal life, and therefore are punished by the color of their skin on earth.

"Speculation about inferiority in the pre-earth life" is not part of the church's doctrine nor part of the curriculum, Corbitt said.

He advised the students, when they hear people repeating these stories, to take the matter to a bishop and/or a stake president and make them aware of what is being said.

Such folklore is definitely not supposed to be taught in the seminary program, said Thomas R. Valletta, director of the Church Education System curriculum. "That (folklore) is certainly not true, and it's not in the curriculum," Valletta said.

Several students at Corbitt's presentation said they wished church leaders would speak directly to racial problems during a general conference session. Entire talks have been devoted to issues such as pornography, the students pointed out.

Corbitt said racial issues have been addressed during general conference talks.

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke on racial intolerance in a priesthood session during the April 2006 general conference:

"Racial strife still raises its ugly head, even among church members. There are reports of racial slurs and denigrating remarks among us. This is unacceptable. I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ."

During the discussion with Corbitt, one black woman said she believes, just from her own personal experience, that 30 percent of the people she encounters in Utah make racially offensive remarks.

Black BYU student Hunter Stott, 28, a junior from Salt Lake City, said he believes the group that intends to be offensive is much smaller than those who just make offhand remarks.

"A lot of them are just ignorant," Stott said. "Most people don't try to be hurtful."

Corbitt says some people have said to him, "You're a nice colored fellow."

"All I say to that is 'Thank you very much. And I think you're nice too.' Period."

Some students argued with Corbitt and said they feel it's their responsibility to correct and educate those who make racially ignorant remarks.

Corbitt said correcting the person would sometimes lead to offense. He may, however, give a person advice on word choices if they are going to be dealing with more black people in future occasions and to help the person "deal more effectively in society."

He advised them not to "worry so much about people who are committing a faux pas just because they live in an area where there is 1 percent blacks."

Corbitt said he rarely gets offended because being offended is a choice. "I refuse to allow it to hurt me," he said. "That is my choice."

In another Black History Month event, students watched snippets of a film called "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons," by Margaret Young and Darius Gray.

The film is scheduled to be shown in the Foursite Film Festival, March 8 at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden.

When asked if there are racial issues at BYU, Gray said, "It doesn't matter where you are. There are racial issues. Race is a reality."

---

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com