By Dr. Darron T. Smith The recent slaying of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin is yet another reminder of the every day presence of racism in the United States. I find it necessary to remind everyone that this is not an isolated incident, but one that occurs daily across America for most black men....

By Dr. Darron T. Smith On Tuesday, Randy Bott, a BYU professor of religion, told the Washington Post that the LDS Church’s historic prohibition on priesthood ordination for men of African descent was a “blessing” to blacks because they were not “ready” for priesthood authority. –...

By Dr. Darron T. Smith It has been nearly a year since Brigham Young University was heralding as “America’s University” for its unapologetic devotion to the honor code when it suspended Brandon Davies, an African American basketball player, on the eve of the 2011 NCAA Basketball...

Recently written opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune. Please click here to read the article.

THESE HOUSE-NEGROES STILL THINK WE’RE CURSED Struggling against racism in the classroom by Darron Smith Journal of Culture Studies published Vol. 19, No. 4 July 2005 pp. 439-454 Handmade oil painting reproduction of Custom House Negroes Rio de Janeiro, a painting by (after) Henderson,...

The subject of this publication is blacks and the priesthood, specifically the former priesthood ban by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This compilation contains eight articles that “explore the varied issues affecting African Americans in the LDS Church, focusing on the...

In the current crisis in Haiti, it is particularly important that any transfer of children from Haiti be in accordance with international law, and handled through reputable organizations able to find families that can provide stability for a better life. Love is not always enough in...

For black Saints, forgetting the LDS Church’s racist heritage is easier said than done. Darron Smith, author and former adjunct sociology faculty at Brigham Young University, recently appeared on a local TV station to promote Black and Mormon, a collection of essays he co-wrote and...

Click here to listen to part 3 of my Mormon Stories Podcast interview.

Click here to listen to part 2 of my Mormon Stories Podcast interview.