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- In light of the LDS Church’s history of race in America, American white supremacy and global white supremacy and anti-blackness, how does/can the LDS Church promote the goal of Zion- cultivating a spirit cohesion and unity- while at the same time allowing for inclusivity and diversity and is it possible?
- Would Janan Graham-Russell rather give up pizza for the rest of her life or change her last name to [Sean] Spicer?
All these questions and more are discussed in light of the upcoming Mormon Studies Conference at Utah Valley University entitled, Multicultural Mormonism: Religious Cohesion in a New Era of Diversity. We are so happy that in this episode of The Racism 101 podcast that Janan Graham-Russell, a presenter at the upcoming Mormon Studies Conference at Utah Valley University, is able to chat with Dr. Darron Smith and Miguel Barker-Valdez. Here is more information about the conference.
March 29th – 31st, 2017
Classroom Building, Room 511
Utah Valley University
Description
Like the early Christians, Mormons are admonished to “go into all the world to preach the gospel.” This requires the American-born religion to “translate” its faith and practices into many different cultural contexts. This has led to debates about how to distinguish between core doctrines and rituals and the particularities of Utah-based Mormon culture. How does a religious body promote cohesion and unity while at the same time allowing for inclusivity and diversity? To what extent is it possible for multiple cultures to work authentically in a single religious community? Can these identities thrive within a common “gospel culture” and maintain their unique languages and customs? To what extent are they vulnerable to cultural assimilation and alienation?
http://www.uvu.edu/religiousstudies/multicultural/
Dr. Darron Smith
Dr. Darron T. Smith is a faculty member at the University of Memphis in the Department of Sociology. He is frequent political and cultural contributor for Huffington Post on various issues of inequality in the form of racism, classism and other systems of U.S. based oppression. He has also contributed to various forums from Religion Dispatches and ESPN's Outside the Lines to The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed sections. Dr. Smith’s research spans a wide myriad of topics on including healthcare disparities, Religious Studies, Race & Sports, Stress & Mindfulness, Transracial Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on healthcare workforce discrimination involving African American physician assistants. His is the author of, When Race, Religion & Sports Collide: Blacks Athletes at BYU and Beyond, was recently released to critical praise in November 2016.
All posts by Dr. Darron Smith
Please, what do you mean by “being black” or “being white”. I’m sorry but you guys seem to make mountains out of mole hills. I understand racism exist. I am subject and subjected by types of it all the time. I’m not perfect but a lot of what I’ve heard from your pod cast has helped open my eyes and make me think. But what about new shows that don’t seem racist like the new 24. The main guy is black they have a gay team leader and more. What are we doing right? Not a back pat but a step or two down the right path. And why does being rich mean the black family in Logan is “white washed” and what is being “white”
Confused,
Thanks for your comments and questions. We will address them in our next episode of “Listener Questions”. The first of these episodes will publish tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5.
Please can you talk about race according to the people in the church. I highly doubt the Gospel is racist. Yes, I agree deep seeded racism like you describe exist. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I love the pod cast. It challenges the way I’ve been taught to think without even realizing it. I like it because it makes me think and when I stop and “prove” my old way of thinking I find it lacking and try to apply what’s been said in the pod cast. It’s very well stated and thought out. Please, please don’t blame past leaders of the church, who were under social pressure from members at the time, to make such racist political moves. The church leaders try deathly hard to stay out of politically charged situations, that doesn’t mean they don’t address the racism. I clearly remember the church web site putting more talks on loving everyone and tolerance on the front of their website and even down to the ward classes and discussion. Please, separate the church members from the Church and the Gospel. Some of the time it feels like all three are all lumped together. The Gospel is perfect and teaches righteousness and brotherly love despite our differences. Unfortunately, many many members of the church our lost and need help realizing they can and need to change their action and thoughts. People that follow The Gospel are not perfect, but The Gospel is. Maybe show how following The Gospel better shows us how to truly incorporate “Zion” in our lives by loving everyone equally while celebrating differences.
Greg,
Thanks for your comments and questions. We will address them in our next episode of “Listener Questions”. The first of these episodes will publish tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5.