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A review by erintby
Mormonism and White Supremacy: American Religion and the Problem of Racial Innocence by Joanna Brooks
4.0
Excellent and necessary book! Brooks explores how white supremacy became institutionalized in the LDS Church. To justify the priesthood and temple ban on blacks, some Church leaders embraced an ahistorical view of the past, with some claiming God institute the ban since the Church’s restoration, conveniently forgetting that Joseph Smith did welcome and ordain Black men to the priesthood. But white supremacy did not end when the ban was lifted.
While it can be hard to read about prophets and other leaders who expressed racist views and supported racist policies, it is important to overcome the dangerous belief in prophet infallibility. Brooks documents exactly why the infallibility myth is so destructive to our faith and community in the context of white supremacy.
I especially enjoyed Chapter 5. It was refreshing to learn about Church members who did speak out according to their conscience, refusing to compromise on their belief that God is not racist. Though it was also disheartening to learn how those with more privileged status were the only ones allowed to express dissent without retribution (George Romney, Lowry Nelson, Stewart Udall), which most likely continues to be the case today.
There is so much more to be done. Just like with systemic racism in our country at large, we cannot simply move on and forget the past and expect the future to heal itself. We must make formal apologies, learn our true history, honestly admit that we were wrong, and adopt specific policies that dismantle white supremacy and teach antiracism going forward.
One of my favorite quotes is from Frederick Douglass: “He is a lover of his country who rebukes but does not excuse its sins.” I think the same could be said of one’s religion. I love my Church, and I don’t believe we should excuse our sins. We need a soul-searching and thorough repentance process. Like Brooks, I believe we can and must do better.
While it can be hard to read about prophets and other leaders who expressed racist views and supported racist policies, it is important to overcome the dangerous belief in prophet infallibility. Brooks documents exactly why the infallibility myth is so destructive to our faith and community in the context of white supremacy.
I especially enjoyed Chapter 5. It was refreshing to learn about Church members who did speak out according to their conscience, refusing to compromise on their belief that God is not racist. Though it was also disheartening to learn how those with more privileged status were the only ones allowed to express dissent without retribution (George Romney, Lowry Nelson, Stewart Udall), which most likely continues to be the case today.
There is so much more to be done. Just like with systemic racism in our country at large, we cannot simply move on and forget the past and expect the future to heal itself. We must make formal apologies, learn our true history, honestly admit that we were wrong, and adopt specific policies that dismantle white supremacy and teach antiracism going forward.
One of my favorite quotes is from Frederick Douglass: “He is a lover of his country who rebukes but does not excuse its sins.” I think the same could be said of one’s religion. I love my Church, and I don’t believe we should excuse our sins. We need a soul-searching and thorough repentance process. Like Brooks, I believe we can and must do better.