Darron Smith interviewed on CBS Affiliate KUTV

Darron Smith is interviewed about his new book "Black and Mormon" .



*** Unofficial Transcript***

KUTV Channel 2 News, CBS Affiliate
News broadcast
September 23, 2004

ANCHORMAN: Good evening everyone. Equal opportunities for blacks in the LDS Church?

ANCHORWOMAN: One BYU instructor says it is still a problem. Dan Rascon live at BYU
tonight. Dan, whose the instructor and what are his claims?

REPORTER: Well Mark and Michelle, the instructor is Darron Smith and this is the name of
his book right here ""Black and Mormon."" He's a part-time sociology teacher here at BYU
and he doesn't mince words in this book and he stands by what they have to say.

DARRON SMITH: ""We are still struggling with these notions of race.""

REPORTER: Darron Smith, a BYU sociology instructor, is talking about his new book ""Black
and Mormon."" A 186 page volume that's sure to stir up emotions about racial attitudes in
the LDS Church.

SMITH: ""Many of the members continue to remind me and other blacks that we were at one
point cursed. I don't think that they do it maliciously, but they are simply summoning
ideas about blacks that they have heard, they've read about, or that has gone through the
rumor mill.""

REPORTER: Smith says this book isn't about an angry member who has a chip on his shoulder,
but rather it's about educating the LDS faithful about blacks.

SMITH: ""We got to be more sensitive, more tolerant, more understanding, more learned
about the racial histories in our society. If I had it my way, I would make it a part of
the curriculum.""

DR. CARNELL JACOBSON: ""There is still a lot of racism.""

REPORTER: Dr. Carnell Jacobson, a BYU sociology professor, who wrote his own book on
minorities in the (LDS) church agrees with Smith, in fact he wrote chapter 6 in Smith's
book.

JACOBSON:""I'd like to see more white members read about blacks and to know more about
black history.""

REPORTER: But both men know that they have a big challenge ahead of them to get their
message out, especially Smith who realizes this book could create some controversy for him
at BYU.

SMITH: ""I shouldn't have to take any jabs. I mean, I should be able to talk about the
sorts of things that I want to talk about that are important to the black community as it
pertains to furthering the mission of the (LDS) Church.""

REPORTER: Now the book is being published by the University of Illinois Press.
It hits the bookshelves next week and pretty much going across the nation. Now Smith is
still obviously a very faithful LDS member. He says he loves the church, he supports the
church, but just feels like members need a bit more history on blacks in the LDS Faith.
Mark and Michele back to you.