Comments about ‘Being a black student at BYU can be difficult’

I really respect black students at BYU and in the Church in general. It would be very difficult for me as a Caucasian to join a church that had previously limited my ability to advance or lead due to my race. I sincerely believe that the whole Priesthood issue was a mistake by man that somehow was perpetuated until 1978. President David O McKay, not known as the most staunch supporter of civil rights, always referred to it as a policy rather than doctrine. It will definitely be one of the first questions I ask in the next life.

If you get the opportunity to see "Nobody Knows: the Untold Story of Black Mormons" please don't miss it! - Margaret Blair Young and Darius Gray have been so Blessed and they deliver such a strong message. It is worth also checking out Margaret's DVD "Jane Manning James"

I first found out about Jane Manning James in the superb book trilogy titled "Standing on The Promises" written by Margaret and Darius and I came to feel as if I new Jane personally and shared her journey with her.

Nevertheless, I was taught in seminary in the 1960's that indeed blacks were neutral in the war in heaven. And I remember the daughter of the stake president say a girl would lose her salvation if she married a black man. I even remember the seminary teacher repeat the legend that Dinah Shore had a black baby.

Wow, this is a very well written and very informative article. Bring on the refreshments!

Being a "minority" myself I very much choose not to be offended by the ignorance some people show. Off handed comments are just that, and well written articles like this will only help more people see things from a different perspective and smooth over the awkwardness people may have with another race. Kudo's to BYU!

I see this kind of racial presence in my own family (father, cousins) and find it completely unfitting for people who want to be known as Christians. If we want tolerance, we need to be tolerant. Kudos to these good people who are willing to forgive us for being so ignorant. I agree there should be a focus on this in General Conference as well as the Ensign.

I find it depressing that so many years after 1978 we still have so few African American converts and the weird myths still persist (eg. Spirit World fence sitters).

BYU should also do far more to bring in students with some diversity. They do next to nothing to bring in multi-ethnic and foreign students. No progress since I was there 25 years ago!!!

We live outside of Utah and my children are in a minority group as members of the LDS church. My daughter who is a senior right now comes home daily with stories of comments about her religion that are unkind. She can choose to be upset or choose not to be offended. I honestly believe that most people are not trying to offend - people just make comments incorrectly when they don't understand something.

I think President Hinckley said it well, "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."

Racial strife is an ugly thing as opposed to "black babies" even though Senator Chris Buttars seems to think otherwise. I'm very glad that this article has been published and I hope that more people will begin to see racism as wrong. I agree with Hinckley and I believe that Chris Buttars can't "consider himself a true disciple of Christ" because of his "disparaging remarks" about "black babies" being ugly. My heart goes out to black members of the Church and to these BYU students. You are all welcome in the Church even if Utah is struggling with its racist tendencies. Such racism is frowned on in the Church especially by members outside of Utah.

Whenever you hear folklore or other racist comments please dismiss them and know that Heavenly Father loves you and those people who are racist will receive their just rewards.

Living in the south, you get to see many members of the church who are of African American Descent. They as well with every other race in the church are very much needed in our wards and branches and their testimonies are amazingly strong.

We are all brothers and sisters in the Gospel. Everyday we see people of every ethnic group so it is not a shock of any kind to see any race serving in different capacities in the church here.

We have laws on Civil Rights
Utah seems to ignore these facts

What a smug, cheap shot you take, at President McKay, from the safety of anonymity. If you are honest, show us the documentation, in context(!), and in less than 200 words so it fits here.

You just contributed to the "Anti" nonsense that LDS believe modern prophets know all, see all, tell all, have all the answers. They don't, and don't claim to.

Come to the Genesis Group, 1st Sunday every month, 7pm, and meet a few hundred black and mixed and white LDS with testimonies and understanding. We unite to face the world that tells us to focus on the differences and the wrongs by God's other children.

No one can point this out in black and white (get it?) but I believe it's pretty obvious that a loving Father makes our race part of the test we came here to get, just like differences of wealth or poverty, health, sickness, family, etc are part of the test.

I understand and have experienced the same ignorant comments that others make. I too understand that body language can speak more than words. I was raised in California so I also understand the meaning of diversity.

Some questions that have been asked of me are: How long did it take for you to learn English? How do you like America? Once I was asked if I was a refugee here. When I said no, they asked, "What are you doing in America?" I smiled and replied, let me ask my parents.

Having said this, I experienced more virile prejudicial comments growing up in California. Corbit said it best that there are racial stereotypes everywhere, as much as it annoys me-- most I've met here are not full of hate as other places I've lived in. I have more stories about being a "minority" and I've also learned to laugh at the experience more than anything because as I said- Utah is not as uncomfortable as other places I've lived in.

Just walk through any Deseret Book store and look for a postcard, picture, or figurine that portrays a non-white person. If you find one, you should try the lottery. They do not exist. And don't even dare look for a Black angel.

I am glad the Des. News published this article. Here's what I hope Church leaders would address at some point:
1. Why the Church refused to endorse the civil rights movement in the '60s. ET Benson likened the movement to communism (but Hugh B. Brown steadfastly opposed him!).
2. Church leader after church leader, from Brigham Young to at least George Albert Smith (maybe later), said blacks were of the "seed of cain." The 2nd Manifesto doesn't repudiate that doctrine. Would a leader have the courage to step up and say that Young and the others were absolutely wrong? Please!
3. Joseph Smith ordained blacks to the priesthood, but his successors changed the policy. I would like to see church leaders, in conference, grapple with this history. Not just say "let's be tolertant" (which we should), but explain to the church body how Smith's policy had been changed over time. And yes, explain to the church that it was a policy.
4. Brigham Young explained that slavery was inspired by God and John Taylor said that blacks were only fit to be servants to white people. I'd like to see church leaders explain this. In short, educated us!

I is white and when I came to this country/state I was asked if I had to learn English, the country I came from was more advanced than Utah. In Utah it is not always color that is their problem it is you are not a native Utahn - your family stock (pioneers somewhere else) were not the poor me persecuted innocent Mormon pioneer stock. Poor me seems the way of life in todays world. Ignore, the ignorant ones and move on and make the most of your life and put color aside. You have red blood like any other sould on earth so you are human and also have American pioneer blood in you.

Ah, so much anger and hatred in these remarks. I am terrified that Utah is filled with people who live to lash out and judge.

How sad that people are actually arguing over the past, the present, black, white, righteousness, and sin.

I hope the majority of people in Utah are nicer than those who rant in these comment blogs because over the past year most of what I read is contention and rude anger. Although, I do not believe everyone who write is ranting.

Every time I think of racism or ignorance or victim or vice, I remember that I am not God, I do not know everything, and I have a duty to act as I should. It helps me have compassion for the people I do not understand and the history I cannot change.

To cheesy man, I like your name. Not sure if you do much reading but take a gander at DAvid O McKay's biography. Did I say he was racist? Did I say he hates blacks? I said he was not the most staunch supporter of civil rights, which he was not. He leaned toward Ezra Taft Benson's views, who said the civil rights movements was supported by the Communists, which was wrong of course. You totally miss my point - and I totally agree with you that prophets are men and therefore imperfect. When I say President McKay referred to it as a policy rather than doctrine, I am saying he was acknowledging even way back in the 50s and 60s that it may be more of a man-made thing than anything else. I would love to come down to Genesis Group and meet you all but I live in NYC, where low and behold we actually have some LDS black folks too. And I ask of you, head to a bookstore, or even a library, start reading and learn. It's a powerful thing and may keep you from being so aggressive in calling out others behind the internet's anonymity.

I can't believe this...

I don't think anyone cried racism in this article in the sense that Al Sharpton cries racism about every little thing, and most black people in the Church don't cry racism like that either. If they believe the Church is true, "racism" is not the issue.

However, that does not mean tension in regards to race is NOT a problem. And it's not something that can be pinpointed by a particular law or regulation in the government, but it just has to do with some of the culture that's been instilled.

I am black. I am LDS. I pretty much grew up in the Church, since my mom got baptized when I was 2 and my dad a little bit later (but he's in the Bishopric now). In my hometown, 25% of blacks own a home, and my family is in the 25%; my dad's a pharmacist, Mom's a nurse, ergo, most of the people in our neighborhood are white. My brother and I both took piano lessons, I took ballet, we were in the gifted program in school, we LOVED seminary (even at 6AM) and church--in short, not what the typical Black Kinstonian would do.

Not denying that being black is an additional burden, but being a student at BYU period is difficult. Go to any other school and going to church is an opportunity you may avail yourself of. Go to BYU and not going to church is a good way to get expelled from school. Under such conditions church ceases to be an opportunity and quickly becomes a burden.

I wasn't the girl that only hung out with black people in school; I had mostly white friends, and growing up I didn't really know the difference... but boy did it hit me hard. Black people didn't accept me, because I was too "white", but if I went to a church activity, people gave me the weirdest looks... and I swear if there were 151 boys and 150 girls at a dance, I would *guaranteed* be the girl that was never asked to dance. We still hear garbage about blacks in the preexistence, Harold B. Lee quotes from back in the day, and what Church publication has *young* black couples on it, or even interracial ones? Not many... People, at least here, always seem to make the assumption that I'm a convert, or that I'm so different that I wouldn't want to be around the "typical" Mormon.

It's kind of hard to feel like you're too white for the world, and too black for the Church. As a result, I hated being black growing up, because it seemed like my race was the only thing preventing me from who I wanted to be.

For those who are questioning whether it really exists, let me tell you in my own experience it is not common but it happens. I had a disagreement once with a shop owner over some fees he tried add to my order. We eventually exchanged some harsh words, and suddenly the guy was yelling some racist BS. Those are the times you see how people really feel, and it makes you wonder how many others are out there who don't show it but do feel it. It can be scary. But, my experience at BYU was awesome. And I have to strongly disagree that BYU does not recruit minorities. BYU probably does so more than any other university out there, offering scholarships and all kinds of support to get you to come. If you haven't discovered the multicultural office, please do. The people are great and will help you through anything. I don't think whites get this special treatment so we should stop complaining about BYU because they are doing their part to make the world fair.