Join us as we uncover what drove change within the Mormon Church, from government pressure on BYU to admit more black students to the church’s troubling response. We’ll dive into shocking letters sent to black prospective students, a five-step plan to keep them out, and the protests that followed. Learn how government intervention eventually forced the end of discrimination and explore why Mormon leaders were so uneasy with black students. This episode, featuring historian Dr. Matthew Harris, is part of our series on his book Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.
Purchase Matt Harris' book here!
“Second Class Saints” by Matt Harris
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Class-Saints-Mormons-Struggle-Equality/dp/019769571X/
We are thrilled to announce that we have reached our donation goal to compensate Dr. Matt Harris for his contributions to this series. We sincerely thank everyone who supported this effort. While the goal to pay Matt has been met, producing this series incurred significant costs for the Open Stories Foundation. If you find value in this content and want to help cover these expenses and support future productions, we encourage you to donate at https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Your generosity makes a difference—thank you!
Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/byu-kept-out-black-students/
00:00:00 Introductions
00:04:00 BYU Protests and Civil Rights investigation
00:05:55 What leads to change within the Church?
00:14:50 Ernest Wilkinson
00:21:45 He implemented the Honor Code
00:24:55 Letter for black students saying “you won't be happy here”
00:31:10 Who was on the BYU board?
00:32:40 Why would church leaders be so uncomfortable with black people?
00:38:45 Less than 3% of blacks in heart of Mormonism
00:41:50 Tightening up admissions at BYU
00:51:00 Removing ability for BYU to discriminate against blacks
01:00:11 The protests at BYU
01:11:15 John Fitzgerald
01:19:55 This is a pivotal moment in church history
01:43:20 The investigation and the arrive at BYU
01:42:30 How the church reacts to this investigation
01:54:15 Athletic part of the story
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