Former Black 14 member works to demystify racial issues

Mel Hamilton took his first step by crossing a street.

It was 1966, and Hamilton was on campus at the University of Wyoming. Coming in the opposite direction was a woman he passed every school day on his way to class. And just like every other time, the woman walked to the other side of the street when she saw him.

But this time, Hamilton crossed, too. Soon, they were face to face.

Hamilton asked the woman if she was trying to avoid him, and if so, why. She apologized, saying she had never talked to a black person.

"That boggled my mind," Hamilton said.

Hamilton was to become one of 14 University of Wyoming football players thrown off the team in 1969 for deciding to wear black armbands in a game against BYU to protest the LDS Church.

Read the full story on MormonTimes.com.