Dr. Benjamin Carson, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and social activist, was BYU’s Black History Month forum speaker. But without knowing that he was invited to speak specifically for the occasion, you might have never suspected it. Dr. Carson gave a wonderful address, but the mention of race was never made. How then, does he qualify as a black history month speaker?
I was actually very surprised that the issue of Dr. Carson’s race never once came up in his remarks. What he did instead was rather remarkable, I think. It was almost as though he purposely avoided the subject. As I listened to him speak, I wondered why he didn’t bring it up. I was almost disappointed that he didn’t. But as I reflected on it later, the significance of what he’d done became apparent.
By not directly addressing the issue of race, Dr. Carson effectively connected with the audience (a group of mostly white students) better than he could have if he had set himself apart as an African American. By refusing to make that distinction, I felt that Dr. Carson was grouping us all together as simply Americans. For me, at least, this was refreshing. When race is constantly being brought up, it becomes a separator. But unity results when the issue is left alone.
This approach to his speaking assignment allowed Dr. Carson to address issues that were universally applicable, especially to BYU students. He spoke of the greatness of America and the promise that our nation holds. He spoke of the importance of involving everyday people in the government, not just politicians. He spoke of religion and the importance of promoting a belief in God and morals. He spoke of the crucial role of education in children’s lives, and what can be done to increase its quality. All of these are things that BYU students hold as valuable.
Even though Dr. Carson did not mention skin color, he still made a very strong, though unspoken, commentary on race. It was as if he were saying, I refuse to be defined by my blackness. And by so doing, he encouraged us to not let ourselves be defined by the stereotypes we may fall into as well. We are the ones who decide who we are and what defines us.
(Please leave a comment)
Monday, April 16, 2012
Understanding Black Latter-day Saints
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail)
Why does black history matter to you? If you are not black, you might not think that it applies at all. But take another look at the above quote by a beloved civil rights leader, and reconsider if black history is really irrelevant to you. Margaret Young took this subject of shared history as the topic for her Black (Church) History lecture in February. She used the lives of several inspiring figures in black church history to show us just how connected we are to them.
The first person she talked about was Elijah Able, probably one of the most well-known black Mormons for the fact that Joseph Smith had ordained him to the priesthood in the early Church. How does this early church figure relate to us today? Elijah saved the life of Charles Wilcken, one of the ancestors of George Wilcken Romney, father of Mitt Romney. If Elijah had not saved his life, Romney would not be running for president right now. Call that good or bad, depending on your political persuasions, but nevertheless the link between Elijah and Romney is one that directly ties the past to our day.
Green Flake was another early black Latter-day Saint that Dr. Young discussed. He was a slave that Brigham Young acquired. It is very probable that he was who Brigham Young was speaking to as he pulled into the Salt Lake Valley and said, “This is the right place. Drive on.” And so, we see how another black man was so importantly involved in our own history. He was a part of that historic moment that has become enshrined in Mormon history.
Another black Mormon who was discussed in the lecture was Biddy Smith Mason. Her story is interesting for the implications of it on another’s life. Biddy was a slave who sought with other relatives to be emancipated from their master when he moved with them out of the south. The case went to court and came up before Benjamin Hayes. He did something that was usual for a judge at the time, and he actually asked the slaves for their opinion. They expressed their desire to be free, and so the judge emancipated them. The really interesting part comes a little later when one of Benjamin Hayes’ children fell off a moving wagon, and one of these emancipated blacks saved the child from being crushed by the wheels of the wagon. Again, the connection between whites and blacks is clear here. We depend on each other, and what we do to each other affects us or others in some way, at some point.
After the lecture, Dr. Young took questions and invited her research partner, Darius Gray, to come speak as well. His comments were very enlightening. He said, “It’s not just black history. It’s American history.” He then went on to say that black history needs to be taught more generally throughout regular history classes. The same is true of other minorities (Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc.). He went on to say that “a society teaches what it values. In the past, we have not valued black history. That needs to change.”
As I have studied black history over the course of this semester, I have come to the same conclusion that Darius Gray expressed. There is so much rich and important black history that is ignored by the mainstream teaching of today. Like Darius said, that needs to change. By learning the things that have been left out, I have gained a greater appreciation for the wider sweep of American history. All our history classes would benefit from an integration of a range of experiences. What a richer history we would then have to tell and learn!
(Please leave a comment)
Why does black history matter to you? If you are not black, you might not think that it applies at all. But take another look at the above quote by a beloved civil rights leader, and reconsider if black history is really irrelevant to you. Margaret Young took this subject of shared history as the topic for her Black (Church) History lecture in February. She used the lives of several inspiring figures in black church history to show us just how connected we are to them.
The first person she talked about was Elijah Able, probably one of the most well-known black Mormons for the fact that Joseph Smith had ordained him to the priesthood in the early Church. How does this early church figure relate to us today? Elijah saved the life of Charles Wilcken, one of the ancestors of George Wilcken Romney, father of Mitt Romney. If Elijah had not saved his life, Romney would not be running for president right now. Call that good or bad, depending on your political persuasions, but nevertheless the link between Elijah and Romney is one that directly ties the past to our day.
Green Flake was another early black Latter-day Saint that Dr. Young discussed. He was a slave that Brigham Young acquired. It is very probable that he was who Brigham Young was speaking to as he pulled into the Salt Lake Valley and said, “This is the right place. Drive on.” And so, we see how another black man was so importantly involved in our own history. He was a part of that historic moment that has become enshrined in Mormon history.
Another black Mormon who was discussed in the lecture was Biddy Smith Mason. Her story is interesting for the implications of it on another’s life. Biddy was a slave who sought with other relatives to be emancipated from their master when he moved with them out of the south. The case went to court and came up before Benjamin Hayes. He did something that was usual for a judge at the time, and he actually asked the slaves for their opinion. They expressed their desire to be free, and so the judge emancipated them. The really interesting part comes a little later when one of Benjamin Hayes’ children fell off a moving wagon, and one of these emancipated blacks saved the child from being crushed by the wheels of the wagon. Again, the connection between whites and blacks is clear here. We depend on each other, and what we do to each other affects us or others in some way, at some point.
After the lecture, Dr. Young took questions and invited her research partner, Darius Gray, to come speak as well. His comments were very enlightening. He said, “It’s not just black history. It’s American history.” He then went on to say that black history needs to be taught more generally throughout regular history classes. The same is true of other minorities (Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc.). He went on to say that “a society teaches what it values. In the past, we have not valued black history. That needs to change.”
As I have studied black history over the course of this semester, I have come to the same conclusion that Darius Gray expressed. There is so much rich and important black history that is ignored by the mainstream teaching of today. Like Darius said, that needs to change. By learning the things that have been left out, I have gained a greater appreciation for the wider sweep of American history. All our history classes would benefit from an integration of a range of experiences. What a richer history we would then have to tell and learn!
(Please leave a comment)
Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons
During Black History Month, the BYU library screened a film called Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons. It was produced by a BYU professor, Margaret Young, and Darius Gray, one of the founding leaders of the Church’s Genesis Group (a support group for black LDS members). The film addresses the difficult topic of black Mormon history and does so in a wonderful way. Far from being speculative and controversial, the film is inspiring and enlightening. It sheds light on the prejudices that existed and still exists among members of the Church, but also highlights the faithful black members.
It specifically addresses the different reasons for the denial of the priesthood to blacks, debunking myth after myth to suggest that the practice was not in actuality based in true doctrine as many assume. Instead, it was a policy put in place by Church leaders who were influenced by societal racist feelings of the time and religious ideology concerning the “curse of Cain.” The film reaches the conclusion that we do not know the reason that the policy was allowed to remain in place until direct revelation ended the practice with Spencer W. Kimball.
In the movie, filmmaker Darius Gray shares his personal conversion story. He had a baptismal date, but the night before he was to be baptized the missionaries told him that he would not be allowed to hold the priesthood. He thought to himself that there was “no way in hell” he would join that church. But that night he prayed and received a confirmation, on no uncertain terms, that he was to join the church the next day. And so he did. He has remained a faithful member of the church since that time. He has faced many questions about his adherence to a church that appears so racist, but he faces such accusations with strength and faith.
After the screening of the film, we were privileged to have a short question and answer session with the filmmakers. Darius Gray was especially interesting to hear from. Someone asked him, since he works so closely with church leaders and general authorities, if the brethren had ever given an actual reason for the priesthood ban. It seemed like the audience waited with bated breath to see how he would answer. He hesitated, and then proceeded, prefacing his answer with this disclaimer: what he was about to say is not doctrine, but it is consistent with scripture and he has been given permission from the brethren to teach it. He then went on to say that the priesthood restriction was not set in place by God, but it was allowed by God as a test to see how we would treat each other. It was lifted by revelation when it became too much of an impediment to the spread of the gospel through the world, ending a practice that had been set in place by men.
When I heard his explanation, everything suddenly fell in place for me. I was filled with so much peace, and I felt that what he’d said was true. I had finally reached a point where I no longer felt like the priesthood ban was a difficult topic. I felt no more embarrassed about the subject, either. The uncertainty I had felt about the issue had been a burden I hadn’t realized I was carrying until that moment. But now, I was liberated. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
On my way home from the film screening, I called my mom because I was just so excited about what I’d just learned. I wanted to share my excitement and relief with someone. Since this time, the topic has become one that I don’t shy away from because I am no longer ignorant.
You, too, may be carrying around ignorance-induced burdens that you don’t even recognize. Maybe it’s about blacks and the priesthood, or maybe it’s about another aspect of history, or something else entirely. Don’t be afraid to confront those uneasy topics. You might be surprised what you will learn if you do confront them, as I was.
If you are interested in watching the film for yourself, the BYU Harold B. Lee library has copies available for check out. For more information, you can visit the film’s website here. (http://blackmormonfilm.com/).
(Please leave a comment)
It specifically addresses the different reasons for the denial of the priesthood to blacks, debunking myth after myth to suggest that the practice was not in actuality based in true doctrine as many assume. Instead, it was a policy put in place by Church leaders who were influenced by societal racist feelings of the time and religious ideology concerning the “curse of Cain.” The film reaches the conclusion that we do not know the reason that the policy was allowed to remain in place until direct revelation ended the practice with Spencer W. Kimball.
In the movie, filmmaker Darius Gray shares his personal conversion story. He had a baptismal date, but the night before he was to be baptized the missionaries told him that he would not be allowed to hold the priesthood. He thought to himself that there was “no way in hell” he would join that church. But that night he prayed and received a confirmation, on no uncertain terms, that he was to join the church the next day. And so he did. He has remained a faithful member of the church since that time. He has faced many questions about his adherence to a church that appears so racist, but he faces such accusations with strength and faith.
After the screening of the film, we were privileged to have a short question and answer session with the filmmakers. Darius Gray was especially interesting to hear from. Someone asked him, since he works so closely with church leaders and general authorities, if the brethren had ever given an actual reason for the priesthood ban. It seemed like the audience waited with bated breath to see how he would answer. He hesitated, and then proceeded, prefacing his answer with this disclaimer: what he was about to say is not doctrine, but it is consistent with scripture and he has been given permission from the brethren to teach it. He then went on to say that the priesthood restriction was not set in place by God, but it was allowed by God as a test to see how we would treat each other. It was lifted by revelation when it became too much of an impediment to the spread of the gospel through the world, ending a practice that had been set in place by men.
When I heard his explanation, everything suddenly fell in place for me. I was filled with so much peace, and I felt that what he’d said was true. I had finally reached a point where I no longer felt like the priesthood ban was a difficult topic. I felt no more embarrassed about the subject, either. The uncertainty I had felt about the issue had been a burden I hadn’t realized I was carrying until that moment. But now, I was liberated. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
On my way home from the film screening, I called my mom because I was just so excited about what I’d just learned. I wanted to share my excitement and relief with someone. Since this time, the topic has become one that I don’t shy away from because I am no longer ignorant.
You, too, may be carrying around ignorance-induced burdens that you don’t even recognize. Maybe it’s about blacks and the priesthood, or maybe it’s about another aspect of history, or something else entirely. Don’t be afraid to confront those uneasy topics. You might be surprised what you will learn if you do confront them, as I was.
If you are interested in watching the film for yourself, the BYU Harold B. Lee library has copies available for check out. For more information, you can visit the film’s website here. (http://blackmormonfilm.com/).
(Please leave a comment)
A Touchy Subject: Blacks and Mormonism
The topic of black Latter-day Saints is one that I’ve usually found to be taboo in our culture. Why is that so? What is it about the history of blacks and the LDS Church that makes it such a difficult topic for us to address openly?
You may want to ask yourself: what do you know about black Mormons? You probably know that they were banned from holding the priesthood for much of the church’s past, until the ban was lifted by Official Declaration 2 in 1878. Before this last semester, that was just about all I knew, too.
I didn’t understand the reasons behind the priesthood ban, and so, to be honest, it was one of those topics that I didn’t really like to think about. I kind of saw it as a black spot on the history of the Church, and frankly I was afraid to learn more about it. What if I learned something that undermined my testimony of the gospel? It was a real fear, to be sure, though I’ve since come to find that it was an unnecessary fear.
I often wonder if much of the rest of the Church’s members don’t feel the same way that I do. I would venture to guess that they do. It’s a topic that isn’t focused on, and, surely, it’s not one of the essential principles pertinent to our salvation. Plus, it is easy to get caught up in suppositions about speculation on such topics. And so to avoid doing so, the topic is left relatively untouched and unexplored by many members.
But what would be the value of learning about the history of black Mormons? It turns out, for me at least, that my testimony was greatly strengthened by the things I learned. It is no longer a scary topic for me to face, and I feel like I can easily answer critics of the Church in regards to the priesthood ban. This is a skill that is becoming increasingly more important for Latter-day Saints to have as the Church is gaining greater publicity. The topic of blacks and the priesthood has been in the news a lot recently, and Church members need to know how to respond to questions about it. To do so, they need to learn about it.
This last February, BYU sponsored several Black History Month events. These provided the opportunity to learn specifically about the history of blacks as related to the Church and BYU. In the following posts, I share the experiences I had from participating in these events.
(Please leave a comment)
You may want to ask yourself: what do you know about black Mormons? You probably know that they were banned from holding the priesthood for much of the church’s past, until the ban was lifted by Official Declaration 2 in 1878. Before this last semester, that was just about all I knew, too.
I didn’t understand the reasons behind the priesthood ban, and so, to be honest, it was one of those topics that I didn’t really like to think about. I kind of saw it as a black spot on the history of the Church, and frankly I was afraid to learn more about it. What if I learned something that undermined my testimony of the gospel? It was a real fear, to be sure, though I’ve since come to find that it was an unnecessary fear.
I often wonder if much of the rest of the Church’s members don’t feel the same way that I do. I would venture to guess that they do. It’s a topic that isn’t focused on, and, surely, it’s not one of the essential principles pertinent to our salvation. Plus, it is easy to get caught up in suppositions about speculation on such topics. And so to avoid doing so, the topic is left relatively untouched and unexplored by many members.
But what would be the value of learning about the history of black Mormons? It turns out, for me at least, that my testimony was greatly strengthened by the things I learned. It is no longer a scary topic for me to face, and I feel like I can easily answer critics of the Church in regards to the priesthood ban. This is a skill that is becoming increasingly more important for Latter-day Saints to have as the Church is gaining greater publicity. The topic of blacks and the priesthood has been in the news a lot recently, and Church members need to know how to respond to questions about it. To do so, they need to learn about it.
This last February, BYU sponsored several Black History Month events. These provided the opportunity to learn specifically about the history of blacks as related to the Church and BYU. In the following posts, I share the experiences I had from participating in these events.
(Please leave a comment)
Monday, April 02, 2012
General Conference
I was able to attend the Saturday morning session in the Conference Center with some friends and we stayed to listen to the afternoon session on the grass outside the tabernacle. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and I even got a little bit of a sunburn!
Me and Sara outside the Conference Center
Pierce, Sara, me, Taylor, and Riley (yeah, she's not looking at the camera)
On the roof of the conference center with the Salt Lake temple in the background
My favorite session was Sunday morning. I thought all the talks were excellent, especially President Uchtdorf's and Elder Christofferson's.
Quote from President Uchtdorf's Sunday morning talk
(click the image to see a blog with more printable quotes from this year's conference!)
Looking forward to re-reading all the talks once they are released later this week!
We thank thee, o God, for a prophet!
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