Latter-day Saint Racial History
Compiled by C. Randall Nicholson
The ideal that all Latter-day Saints are supposed to strive for.
Latter-day Saints as a demographic throughout history have been neither more nor less racist than their peers. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never had segregated congregations, and it is firmly established and growing quickly in Brazil, the Caribbean, and many African nations. In the United States, it's an official partner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and conducts charitable work hand-in-hand with it. Yet it is sometimes accused of being a racist organization or having racist foundations. Why?
1. The Book of Mormon contains passages that associate black skin with wickedness and a curse from God, and white skin with purity and righteousness. The natural inclination of most church members and critics alike is to read these passages literally.
2. Church leaders born in the nineteenth century have said and written things about people of other races, especially those of African descent, that to modern readers are shocking and clearly wrong. They were treated as doctrine by many for a long time, and critics argue that they were and still are.
3. From circa 1852 to June 1978 the priesthood and temple ordinances were denied to most members of African descent. Although the history is convoluted and often vague, critics and even some members assume that racism is the only reason it was in place and that public pressure is the only reason it was repealed. Most of the aforementioned racist statements were used to justify the policy in some way.
Before proceeding further it should be noted that the modern notion of humans being divided into "races", though almost universally accepted, is scientifically invalid. It was first outlined in a 1775 Masters Thesis by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, who later realized he was wrong and was chagrined at how other scholars hijacked his hypothesis to justify prejudice. Because the concept is so widely understood, I play along with it, but I want to be clear that it isn't true. There are no "white people" or "black people". We just have different amounts of brown skin pigmentation. A more detailed analysis of the preceding issues follows, the result of years of research as I tried to understand them.
1. The Book of Mormon contains passages that associate black skin with wickedness and a curse from God, and white skin with purity and righteousness. The natural inclination of most church members and critics alike is to read these passages literally.
2. Church leaders born in the nineteenth century have said and written things about people of other races, especially those of African descent, that to modern readers are shocking and clearly wrong. They were treated as doctrine by many for a long time, and critics argue that they were and still are.
3. From circa 1852 to June 1978 the priesthood and temple ordinances were denied to most members of African descent. Although the history is convoluted and often vague, critics and even some members assume that racism is the only reason it was in place and that public pressure is the only reason it was repealed. Most of the aforementioned racist statements were used to justify the policy in some way.
Before proceeding further it should be noted that the modern notion of humans being divided into "races", though almost universally accepted, is scientifically invalid. It was first outlined in a 1775 Masters Thesis by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, who later realized he was wrong and was chagrined at how other scholars hijacked his hypothesis to justify prejudice. Because the concept is so widely understood, I play along with it, but I want to be clear that it isn't true. There are no "white people" or "black people". We just have different amounts of brown skin pigmentation. A more detailed analysis of the preceding issues follows, the result of years of research as I tried to understand them.
Part I: Native Americans
This section has been very much neglected while I focused on black people and the priesthood, which I found more interesting. I hope to get back to it someday.
The Lamanite Curse - The Book of Mormon talks of the wicked Lamanites being cursed with a skin of blackness and becoming white when they repent and join the Church, which some modern readers find repugnant. But what does it actually mean?
The Church of Jesus Christ and Native Americans - In contrast to most Americans, Latter-day Saints from the beginning viewed Native Americans as remnants of a fallen nation with whom they had an obligation to share the gospel.
The Lamanite Curse - The Book of Mormon talks of the wicked Lamanites being cursed with a skin of blackness and becoming white when they repent and join the Church, which some modern readers find repugnant. But what does it actually mean?
The Church of Jesus Christ and Native Americans - In contrast to most Americans, Latter-day Saints from the beginning viewed Native Americans as remnants of a fallen nation with whom they had an obligation to share the gospel.
Part II: People of African Descent ("Black People")
When I was young, someone in church mentioned in passing that black people were allowed to hold the priesthood starting in such-and-such a year. I didn't give it a second thought because I knew all about how black people had been treated in the United States. A few years later, however, I remembered that and thought to question why the Lord's true church wouldn't have known better than American culture. I asked my dad and he brought up how in Old Testament times only the Levites were eligible for the priesthood. That satisfied me. A few years later, however, I found out that a black man named Elijah Ables (or Abel) had been in the Third Quorum of the Seventy under Joseph Smith, and then I learned that early church leaders had been racist after all, and then this issue became a lot more complicated and really, really bothered me. I spent years reading everything I could find about it in order to get some peace of mind.
Though I undertook this on my own, and none of my views or conclusions are officially those of the Church unless noted as such (and I try to let the facts speak for themselves most of the time anyway), I felt the Spirit dozens of times suggesting new insights, enlarging my understanding, and guiding me to additional sources for research. And I do believe that even if it came about through human error and racism, the priesthood ban was allowed by God for His own higher, undisclosed purposes. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, not of Brigham Young or any other man, and notwithstanding their fallibility I don't believe that prophets have free reign to do whatever they want with it. The ban ended on the Lord's timetable and no one else's, and contrary to popular misrepresentation, the Church has never disavowed it or said it was a mistake. But that's up to individuals to prayerfully study and resolve for themselves.
When I first started this project, I thought three pages would be sufficient. Ha. This record is as thorough as possible up until 1978. After that point, of course, the Church has had so many members of African descent that such thoroughness is impossible and would be tedious anyway.
Black Latter-day Saints Before June 1978 - A list as complete as I can get it. If you know of others who should be included, please contact me.
Abner Howell, Black Latter-day Saint - A faith-affirming story that every Latter-day Saint should know
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1830-1837 - The Church is restored, Elijah Ables is baptized and ordained, Latter-day Saints in Missouri are persecuted for anti-slavery views
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1838-1842 - Elijah Ables serves his first mission, Jane Manning James and her family are baptized and Jane lives with Joseph Smith
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1843-1844 - Joseph Smith runs for U.S. President on anti-slavery platform, traditional American racial ideas creep into the Church after his death
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1845-1848 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1849-1852 - The priesthood ban takes shape, slavery is legalized in Utah Territory
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1853-1860 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1861-1868 - The American Civil War ends slavery in the United States
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1879-1889 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1890-1899 - Jane Manning James is sealed by proxy to Joseph Smith's family as a servant
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1900-1903 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1904-1907 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1908-1912 - Death of Jane Manning James, death of Isaac James
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1913-1930 - Booker T. Washington visits Utah and praises Latter-day Saints, Len Hope is baptized, Abner Howell and his wife are baptized
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1931-1946 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1947 - Internal pressure from sociologist Lowry Nelson, letter to Dr. Nelson from David O. McKay
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1948-1954 - First official First Presidency statement on black people and the priesthood, David O. McKay enlarges priesthood eligibility for South Africans, Mark E. Petersen addresses BYU teachers in speech supporting segregation
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1955-1959 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1960 - Thousands of Nigerians desire baptism
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1961-1962 - LaMar Williams takes factfinding trip to Nigeria, Nigerian Mission is planned
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1963 - Nigerian Outlook publishes strongly-worded editorial against the Church, Hugh B. Brown reads civil rights statement in General Conference, LOOK magazine publishes "Memo to a Mormon"
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1964-1965 - Joseph William Billy Johnson hears the gospel in Ghana, Darius Gray is baptized, Nigerian Mission is canceled amid controversy and visa problems
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1966-1967 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1968 - Sports protests and boycotts against BYU begin
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1969-1970 - Updated First Presidency statement on black people and the priesthood; Sports protests and boycotts against BYU continue and end
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1971-1973 - Genesis Group formed, Lester Bush publishes groundbreaking article in Dialogue, thousands of prospective Latter-day Saints in Nigeria apostatize
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1974-1977 - Lawsuit against Boy Scouts of America, São Paulo Brazil Temple announced, Douglas Wallace and Byron Marchant excommunicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1978 - Revelation to Spencer W. Kimball ends priesthood and temple ban, São Paulo Brazil Temple dedicated, missionary work begins in West Africa
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1979-1984 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1985-1988 - Johannesburg South Africa Temple dedicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1989-1994 - Helvécio Martins becomes first General Authority of black African descent
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1995-1998 - Gordon B. Hinckley tours five African nations
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1999-2003 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2004-2006 - Accra Ghana and Aba Nigeria Temples dedicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2007-2010 - Church's "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign showcases black members
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2011-2012 - Mitt Romney's second US presidential campaign brings attention to race issue
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2013-2017 - Church publishes new Official Declaration 2 heading and Gospel Topics essay called "Race and the Priesthood"
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2018-2019 - Church celebrates fortieth anniversary of priesthood revelation with "Be One" celebration, Peter M. Johnson becomes first African-American General Authority
Latter-day Saint Temples in Brazil
Latter-day Saint Temples in the Caribbean
Latter-day Saint Temples in Africa
Though I undertook this on my own, and none of my views or conclusions are officially those of the Church unless noted as such (and I try to let the facts speak for themselves most of the time anyway), I felt the Spirit dozens of times suggesting new insights, enlarging my understanding, and guiding me to additional sources for research. And I do believe that even if it came about through human error and racism, the priesthood ban was allowed by God for His own higher, undisclosed purposes. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, not of Brigham Young or any other man, and notwithstanding their fallibility I don't believe that prophets have free reign to do whatever they want with it. The ban ended on the Lord's timetable and no one else's, and contrary to popular misrepresentation, the Church has never disavowed it or said it was a mistake. But that's up to individuals to prayerfully study and resolve for themselves.
When I first started this project, I thought three pages would be sufficient. Ha. This record is as thorough as possible up until 1978. After that point, of course, the Church has had so many members of African descent that such thoroughness is impossible and would be tedious anyway.
Black Latter-day Saints Before June 1978 - A list as complete as I can get it. If you know of others who should be included, please contact me.
Abner Howell, Black Latter-day Saint - A faith-affirming story that every Latter-day Saint should know
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1830-1837 - The Church is restored, Elijah Ables is baptized and ordained, Latter-day Saints in Missouri are persecuted for anti-slavery views
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1838-1842 - Elijah Ables serves his first mission, Jane Manning James and her family are baptized and Jane lives with Joseph Smith
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1843-1844 - Joseph Smith runs for U.S. President on anti-slavery platform, traditional American racial ideas creep into the Church after his death
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1845-1848 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1849-1852 - The priesthood ban takes shape, slavery is legalized in Utah Territory
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1853-1860 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1861-1868 - The American Civil War ends slavery in the United States
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1879-1889 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1890-1899 - Jane Manning James is sealed by proxy to Joseph Smith's family as a servant
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1900-1903 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1904-1907 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1908-1912 - Death of Jane Manning James, death of Isaac James
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1913-1930 - Booker T. Washington visits Utah and praises Latter-day Saints, Len Hope is baptized, Abner Howell and his wife are baptized
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1931-1946 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1947 - Internal pressure from sociologist Lowry Nelson, letter to Dr. Nelson from David O. McKay
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1948-1954 - First official First Presidency statement on black people and the priesthood, David O. McKay enlarges priesthood eligibility for South Africans, Mark E. Petersen addresses BYU teachers in speech supporting segregation
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1955-1959 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1960 - Thousands of Nigerians desire baptism
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1961-1962 - LaMar Williams takes factfinding trip to Nigeria, Nigerian Mission is planned
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1963 - Nigerian Outlook publishes strongly-worded editorial against the Church, Hugh B. Brown reads civil rights statement in General Conference, LOOK magazine publishes "Memo to a Mormon"
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1964-1965 - Joseph William Billy Johnson hears the gospel in Ghana, Darius Gray is baptized, Nigerian Mission is canceled amid controversy and visa problems
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1966-1967 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1968 - Sports protests and boycotts against BYU begin
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1969-1970 - Updated First Presidency statement on black people and the priesthood; Sports protests and boycotts against BYU continue and end
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1971-1973 - Genesis Group formed, Lester Bush publishes groundbreaking article in Dialogue, thousands of prospective Latter-day Saints in Nigeria apostatize
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1974-1977 - Lawsuit against Boy Scouts of America, São Paulo Brazil Temple announced, Douglas Wallace and Byron Marchant excommunicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1978 - Revelation to Spencer W. Kimball ends priesthood and temple ban, São Paulo Brazil Temple dedicated, missionary work begins in West Africa
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1979-1984 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1985-1988 - Johannesburg South Africa Temple dedicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1989-1994 - Helvécio Martins becomes first General Authority of black African descent
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1995-1998 - Gordon B. Hinckley tours five African nations
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 1999-2003 -
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2004-2006 - Accra Ghana and Aba Nigeria Temples dedicated
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2007-2010 - Church's "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign showcases black members
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2011-2012 - Mitt Romney's second US presidential campaign brings attention to race issue
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2013-2017 - Church publishes new Official Declaration 2 heading and Gospel Topics essay called "Race and the Priesthood"
The Church of Jesus Christ and Black People 2018-2019 - Church celebrates fortieth anniversary of priesthood revelation with "Be One" celebration, Peter M. Johnson becomes first African-American General Authority
Latter-day Saint Temples in Brazil
Latter-day Saint Temples in the Caribbean
Latter-day Saint Temples in Africa
Bibliography
I make no claims to be a legitimate scholar. I haven't put footnotes and citations in the article itself because I'm lazy and think they disrupt the flow, but these were my main sources. Of course, the use of them doesn't mean I necessarily agree with all of the authors' paradigms. Whenever possible, direct quotes are used (though they weren't always reported or transcribed accurately to begin with) to tell the story in the participants' own words. Whenever just a few lines of a primary source were quoted I tried to find it, examine the surrounding context, and use more or all of it whenever relevant (unlike the Church's critics, who generally copy and paste cherry-picked sound bites without even bothering to look at the source). Many thanks to the Logan City Library, Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library, and Logan LDS Institute Library for their help with some of the books.
100 years since Booker T. Washington's historic visit to the Mormons (article) by David Ward, Deseret News
Adventures of a Church Historian (book) by Leonard J. Arrington
African Converts without Baptism: A Unique and Inspiring Chapter in Church History (speech) by E. Dale LeBaron
All are Alike Unto God (speech) by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve
Are All Alike Unto God?: Prejudice Against Blacks and Women in Popular Mormon Theology (article) by Eugene England, Sunstone
Becoming a World Religion: Blacks, the Poor - All of Us (article) by Eugene England, Sunstone
The Black 14: Williams v. Eaton - A Personal Recollection (article) by James E. Barrett
Black and Mormon (compilation of essays), edited by Newell G. Bringhurst and Darron Smith
Black Latter-day Saints (Facebook group)
Black Mormon Tells Her Story (book) by Wynetta Willis Martin
Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables (e-book) by Russell Stevenson
Black Mormons and the Priesthood-ban by Darrick T. Evenson
Black Saints in a White Church: Contemporary African American Mormons by Jessie L. Embry
blacklds.org
Blacks in the Scriptures (DVD series and website) by Marvin Perkins and Darius Gray
"Blindside": Utah on the Eve of Brown v. Board of Education (article) by F. Ross Peterson, Utah Historical Quarterly
The Booker T. Washington Papers, Volume 12: 1912-14 (compilation of documents) edited by Louis R. Harlan and Raymond W. Smock, pp.149-153
Brother to Brother: The Story of the Latter-day Saint Missionaries Who Took the Gospel to Black Africa by Rendell N. Mabey and Gordon T. Allred
Controversy is over, say LDS blacks (article) by Lee Davidson, Deseret News
The Curse of Cain and Other Stories: Blacks in Mormon Folklore (article) by William A. Wilson and Richard C. Poulsen, Sunstone
The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa (book) by Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the Seventy
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism (book) by Dr. Gregory A. Prince, Chapter 4
Emerging with Faith in Africa (article)
Excerpts from Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 (compilation of documents)
For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism, 1830-2013 (book) by Russell Stevenson
From the East: The History of the Latter-day Saints in Asia, 1851-1996 (book) by R. Lanier Britsch
The Genesis of a church's stand on race (article) by Jason Horowitz, Washington Post (note: the Church's response to this article disavowed the quoted statements of BYU professor Randy Bott)
He Restoreth My Soul (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (article) by the Southeast Africa Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
It's You and Me, Lord! (book) by Alan Gerald Cherry
Jane Manning James: Black Saint, 1847 Pioneer (article) by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, Ensign
Journal of Discourses (note: though containing the sermons of early General Authorities, this is not an official Church publication)
LDS black leaders call for spirit of unity (article) by Carrie A. Moore, Deseret News
LDS Genesis Group
Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (book) by Edward L. Kimball
Mormon America: The Power and the Promise (book) by Richard and Joan K. Ostling
The Mormon Cross (article) by Eugene England, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
The Mormon Establishment (book) by Wallace Turner
The Mormon Faith and Black Folks by Darrick T. Evenson (note: though written by a black Mormon, some of this book's conclusions are not in line with current church teachings)
The Mormon Priesthood Ban and Elder Q. Walker Lewis: "An example for his more whiter brethren to follow"(article) by Connell O'Donovan, John Whitmer Historical Association Journal
The Mormon Priesthood Revelation and the São Paulo, Brazil Temple (article) by Mark L. Grover, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Mormonism and the Negro (book) by John J. Stewart
Mormonism and Racial Issues (FairMormon topic)
The Mormons: Interviews (PBS Frontline + American Experience documentary)
The Mormons: Looking Forward and Outward (article) by Jan Shipps, Christian Century
Mormons May Disavow Old View on Blacks (article) by Larry B. Stammer, Los Angeles Times
Neither White Nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church (compilation of articles from Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought), edited by Lester E. Bush, Jr. and Armand L. Mauss
Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons (documentary) by Darius Gray and Margaret Young
No Johnny-Come-Lately: The 182-Year-Long BLACK Mormon Moment (FairMormon Conference presentation) by Darius Gray and Margaret Young
Out of Obscurity: The LDS Church in the Twentieth Century (compilation of presentations from 29th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium)
Playing Jane (article) by Max Perry Mueller, Harvard Divinity Bulletin
Race and the Priesthood (article), Gospel Topics, lds.org
Reflection of a Soul (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
Safe Journey: An African Adventure (book) by Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy
Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism (book) by Newell G. Bringhurst
Saint Without Priesthood: The Collected Testimonies of Ex-slave Samuel D. Chambers (article), Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Samuel D. Chambers (article) by William G. Hartley, New Era
Spencer W. Kimball and the Revelation on Priesthood (article) by Edward L. Kimball, BYU Studies
A Soul so Rebellious (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
The Story of the Negro Pioneer (book) by Kate B. Carter
Utah's African-American Voices (PBS Online project)
Voice from Nigeria (article) by Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, Ensign
Wikipedia
Would-be Saints: West Africa Before the 1978 Priesthood Revelation (article) by James B. Allen, Journal of Mormon History
100 years since Booker T. Washington's historic visit to the Mormons (article) by David Ward, Deseret News
Adventures of a Church Historian (book) by Leonard J. Arrington
African Converts without Baptism: A Unique and Inspiring Chapter in Church History (speech) by E. Dale LeBaron
All are Alike Unto God (speech) by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve
Are All Alike Unto God?: Prejudice Against Blacks and Women in Popular Mormon Theology (article) by Eugene England, Sunstone
Becoming a World Religion: Blacks, the Poor - All of Us (article) by Eugene England, Sunstone
The Black 14: Williams v. Eaton - A Personal Recollection (article) by James E. Barrett
Black and Mormon (compilation of essays), edited by Newell G. Bringhurst and Darron Smith
Black Latter-day Saints (Facebook group)
Black Mormon Tells Her Story (book) by Wynetta Willis Martin
Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables (e-book) by Russell Stevenson
Black Mormons and the Priesthood-ban by Darrick T. Evenson
Black Saints in a White Church: Contemporary African American Mormons by Jessie L. Embry
blacklds.org
Blacks in the Scriptures (DVD series and website) by Marvin Perkins and Darius Gray
"Blindside": Utah on the Eve of Brown v. Board of Education (article) by F. Ross Peterson, Utah Historical Quarterly
The Booker T. Washington Papers, Volume 12: 1912-14 (compilation of documents) edited by Louis R. Harlan and Raymond W. Smock, pp.149-153
Brother to Brother: The Story of the Latter-day Saint Missionaries Who Took the Gospel to Black Africa by Rendell N. Mabey and Gordon T. Allred
Controversy is over, say LDS blacks (article) by Lee Davidson, Deseret News
The Curse of Cain and Other Stories: Blacks in Mormon Folklore (article) by William A. Wilson and Richard C. Poulsen, Sunstone
The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa (book) by Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the Seventy
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism (book) by Dr. Gregory A. Prince, Chapter 4
Emerging with Faith in Africa (article)
Excerpts from Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 (compilation of documents)
For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism, 1830-2013 (book) by Russell Stevenson
From the East: The History of the Latter-day Saints in Asia, 1851-1996 (book) by R. Lanier Britsch
The Genesis of a church's stand on race (article) by Jason Horowitz, Washington Post (note: the Church's response to this article disavowed the quoted statements of BYU professor Randy Bott)
He Restoreth My Soul (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (article) by the Southeast Africa Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
It's You and Me, Lord! (book) by Alan Gerald Cherry
Jane Manning James: Black Saint, 1847 Pioneer (article) by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, Ensign
Journal of Discourses (note: though containing the sermons of early General Authorities, this is not an official Church publication)
LDS black leaders call for spirit of unity (article) by Carrie A. Moore, Deseret News
LDS Genesis Group
Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (book) by Edward L. Kimball
Mormon America: The Power and the Promise (book) by Richard and Joan K. Ostling
The Mormon Cross (article) by Eugene England, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
The Mormon Establishment (book) by Wallace Turner
The Mormon Faith and Black Folks by Darrick T. Evenson (note: though written by a black Mormon, some of this book's conclusions are not in line with current church teachings)
The Mormon Priesthood Ban and Elder Q. Walker Lewis: "An example for his more whiter brethren to follow"(article) by Connell O'Donovan, John Whitmer Historical Association Journal
The Mormon Priesthood Revelation and the São Paulo, Brazil Temple (article) by Mark L. Grover, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Mormonism and the Negro (book) by John J. Stewart
Mormonism and Racial Issues (FairMormon topic)
The Mormons: Interviews (PBS Frontline + American Experience documentary)
The Mormons: Looking Forward and Outward (article) by Jan Shipps, Christian Century
Mormons May Disavow Old View on Blacks (article) by Larry B. Stammer, Los Angeles Times
Neither White Nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church (compilation of articles from Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought), edited by Lester E. Bush, Jr. and Armand L. Mauss
Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons (documentary) by Darius Gray and Margaret Young
No Johnny-Come-Lately: The 182-Year-Long BLACK Mormon Moment (FairMormon Conference presentation) by Darius Gray and Margaret Young
Out of Obscurity: The LDS Church in the Twentieth Century (compilation of presentations from 29th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium)
Playing Jane (article) by Max Perry Mueller, Harvard Divinity Bulletin
Race and the Priesthood (article), Gospel Topics, lds.org
Reflection of a Soul (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
Safe Journey: An African Adventure (book) by Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy
Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People Within Mormonism (book) by Newell G. Bringhurst
Saint Without Priesthood: The Collected Testimonies of Ex-slave Samuel D. Chambers (article), Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Samuel D. Chambers (article) by William G. Hartley, New Era
Spencer W. Kimball and the Revelation on Priesthood (article) by Edward L. Kimball, BYU Studies
A Soul so Rebellious (book) by Mary Sturlaugson Eyer
The Story of the Negro Pioneer (book) by Kate B. Carter
Utah's African-American Voices (PBS Online project)
Voice from Nigeria (article) by Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, Ensign
Wikipedia
Would-be Saints: West Africa Before the 1978 Priesthood Revelation (article) by James B. Allen, Journal of Mormon History
