Blacks and the Priesthood

Important Dates
Essential Articles to Read
Essential Books to Read

Summary of Important Dates

1836: In March, Elijah Abel, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1836: In December, Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Seventy.
1844: Walker Lewis, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1846: William McCary, a black man, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1900: Enoch Abel, the son of Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1935: Elijah Abel, grandson of Elijah Abel, is ordained to the office of Elder.
1958: All black Melanesians (Fijians) are given the priesthood (blacks in the Philippines even earlier)
1978: Revelation on Priesthood gives the priesthood to all worthy men regardless of color.
1990: Helvecio Martins becomes first black General Authority Seventy.
Additional blacks were ordained in the early years of the church.
For more information see the History Timeline.

Essential Articles

I find the following articles from the FAIR website to be the best in covering this topic. I believe it is essential to read these articles if you want to have an understanding of this issue.

• Dispelling the Black Myth, by Renee Olson
  As a black Latter-day Saint and former anti-Mormon, Renee Olson has a unique perspective on the issues relating to black members of the Church of Jesus
  Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her humor-laced, 2002 FAIR Conference presentation, Olson educated attendees on the history of the priesthood ban,
  race issues that still exist in the Church, and ideas of how and where we should go from here.
• The LDS Church and the Race Issue: A Study in Misplaced Apologetics, by Armand Mauss
  This talk was given by Armand Mauss at the 2003 FAIR Conference. Its strength is the simple question and answer format that Dr. Mauss uses which
  makes his position very clear and easy to understand. His book is also listed below as one of the essential books to read on this topic.
• Blacks and the Priesthood, by Marvin Perkins
  A talk given by Marvin Perkins in Los Angeles. This talk discusses the official Church position.
• Mormonism 201: Chapter 16, by Juliann Reynolds
  This is a review of Mormonism 101, Chapter 16: Lamanites, the Seed of Cain and Polygamy. This is a book review of one chapter from an
  anti-Mormon book. This article has a completely different take on the subject and puts the issue into context. It compares the Mormon position on
  blacks with those of other denominations.
• The Charge of “Racism” in the Book of Mormon, by John A. Tvedtnes
  Some critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints charge that the Book of Mormon itself contains racist
  statements and doctrine. Tvedtnes responds to these charges by looking at how the Book of Mormon
  comments can be taken in context to refer not to skin color, but to the attitudes, traditions, and level of righteousness of the Book of Mormon
  people. The white and black imagery is used in the Book of Mormon to contrast purity and virtue with idleness, unrighteousness, and sin.
  He shows the Book of Mormon makes it clear that God considers neither race nor skin color when dispensing blessings or offering salvation to His
  children.

Essential Books

These books are recommended by Marvin Perkins:

• Standing on the Promises trilogy, by Margaret Blair Young and Darius A. Gray
• All Abraham’s Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage, by Armand Mauss
• Neither White Nor Black, by Lester E. Bush and Armand L. Mauss. (This classic book is available online
  on this Web site.)
• Abraham in Egypt, by Hugh Nibley
• The Dawning of a Brighter Day, by Alexander B. Morrison

These books (and many more) are available at the FAIR bookstore.