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Black Saints
in a
White Church:

Contemporary African American Mormons

Jessie L. Embry

Signature Books
Salt Lake City
© 1994

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. Black Churches in America
2. The LDS Church and African-Americans
3. Impact of the LDS "Negro Policy"
4. The Oral History Project and Survey
5. Religious Commitment
6. Cultural Interaction
7. Public Acceptance
8. Social Acceptance
9. Organizational Issues
10. Within The Black Community
11. The LDS African-Americans

Appenix
Selected Readings
Cover

Appendix
INTERVIEWS BY ALAN CHERRY
Name
Date 
Place
Nathleen Albright
23 Oct. 1985        
Lake Los Angeles, CA
Reginald Allen 
25 Sept. 1986        
Brooklyn, NY
Alvin Alphabet             
30 May 1987        
Carrollton, GA
Ellen M. Alphabet       
30 May 1987        
Carrollton, GA
Mason Anderson    
21 Jan. 1986        
Charlotte, NC
Dexter Andrews      
5 June 1987
Jackson, MS
Sylvia V. Arnold
18 Oct. 1986        
Richmond, VA
Leo Arrington       
7 Nov. 1986
Honolulu, HI
Joell Aull
12 Feb. 1987        
Provo, UT
Alva Baltimore        
13 Oct. 1986
Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth Baltimore   
12 Oct. 1986
Washington, D.C.
Mary Lucile Bankhead    
11 Apr. 1985  
Salt Lake City, UT
Betty Wright Baunchand  
10 June 1987
Baker, LA
Clement Charles Biggs
3 June 1987
Birmingham, AL
Lula M. Biggs      
3 June 1987
Birmingham, AL
Kenneth Bolton, Sr.
6 June 1987        
Jackson, MS
Darlene Bowden          
18 Jan. 1986        
Charlotte, NC
Denorris Clarence Bradley             
24 Jan. 1986  Winston-Salem, NC
Martha Branigan
17 Feb. 1987 Provo, UT
Betty Ann Bridgeforth
23 Mar. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Ruffm Bridgeforth
16 Mar. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Janet Brooks
15 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO
Angela Brown
25 Jan. 1986 Greensboro, NC
Gladys Brown
20 Jan. 1986 Charlotte, NC
Norman Lee Brown
25 Jan. 1986 Greensboro, NC
Robert Coleman Brown
10 Oct. 1986 Beltsville, MD
Samuella Brown
12 Mar. 1988 Columbus, OH
Wesley Jennings Brown
9 June 1987         Baton Rouge, LA
Calvaline Burnett       
2 June 1987         Birmingham, AL
Edwin Allen Burwell  
25 Jan. 1986         Greensboro, NC
Retha Burwell        
25 Jan. 1986         Greensboro, NC
Emanuel Canaday    
15 Mar. 1988         St. Louis, MO
Rodney Carey        
14 Oct. 1985         Oakland, CA
Margaret Carter    
12 Oct. 1985         Danville, CA
Vanessa A. Carter     
15 May 1985         Ogden, UT
Willie Carter     
11 Oct. 1985         Danville, CA
Gilmore H. Chappell 
4 Oct. 1986         Philadelphia, PA
Charles Frazier Chisolm   
23 Jan. 1986         Asheville, NC
Donna Chisolm
18 Jan. 1986         Charlotte, NC
Marie Edington Chisolm 
23 Jan. 1986         Asheville, NC
Crystral Clark  
26 Jan. 1986         Raleigh, NC
Matt Clark
24 Jan. 1986         Raleigh, NC
Samuel Coggs
5 Mar. 1988         Chicago, IL
Vivian Collier   
18 Oct. 1986         Richmond, VA
Marva Collins     
3 Oct. 1985         Salt Lake City, UT

Sonya Isilma Collins

13 Sept. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Linda Cooper 14 Oct. 1985 Oakland, CA
William L. Cox 1 Feb. 1986 Greenville, NC
Bobby Darby 16 Jan. 1986 Charlotte, NC
Darrin Bret Davis 9 Jan. 1985 Provo, UT
Florita Davis 20 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA
Sharon J. Davis 10 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Alfonzo Day 21 Jan. 1986 Charlotte, NC
Emma J. I. Dickerson 7 Oct. 1986 Philadelphia, PA
Anita Durphey 16 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO
Carol Edwards 10 Oct. 1986 McLean, VA
J. Joseph Faulkner 1 June 1987 Gadsden, AL

James Ashley Fennell II

1 Feb. 1986 Greenville, NC
Ruth Fields 28 Oct. 1985 Chandler, AZ
Gayla Floyd 6 Nov. 1986 Laie, HI
Sean Floyd 6 Nov. 1986 Laie, HI
Van E. Floyd
9 Nov. 1986 Laie, HI
Sherrie Honore Franklin 13 June 1987 New Orleans, LA
Darryl K. Gaines 18 Jan. 1986 Rock Hill, SC
Janis R. Garrison 10 May 1985 Provo, UT
George Garwood 1 May 1985 Ogden, UT
David Diamond Gathers 18, 22 May 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
David E. Gathers 28 Jan. 1986 Pinebluff, NC
Mazie Gathers 27 Jan. 1986 Pinebluff, NC
Romona Gibbons 30 Aug. 1985 Orem, UT
Peter Gillo 7 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Sarah Gripper 18 Mar. 1988 Springfield, IL
Jeri Allen Thornton Hale 14 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Keith Norman Hamilton 26 Aug. 1985 Provo, UT

Edward Harris

15 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO

Gehrig Harris

10 June 1987 White Castle, LA
Mary Harris 17 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO

Gayle Harrison

12 June 1987 New Orleans, LA

Donald L. Harwell

1 May 1985 Salt Lake City, UT

Chester Lee Hawkins

1 Mar. 1985 Provo, UT

Betty Jean Hill

7 Sept. 1985 Provo, UT

Leonard Hill

4 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL

Diane Amelia Hughes

16 June 1987 Gulfport, MS

Elijah Jackson, Jr.

7 Nov. 1988 Laie, HI

Lester Jefferson

5 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL

Hazel Mary Jenkins

3 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL

Pauline Jenkins

16 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO

William Jenkins

15 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO

Aurbie Rayford Johnson

28 May 1987 Lithonia, GA

Cecelia Johnson

6 Oct. 1986 Philadelphia, PA

James Johnson

20 Jan. 1986 Monroe, NC
JuanitaJohnson 7 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL

Richard Johnson

6 Oct. 1986 Philadelphia, PA

Thomas Harrison Johnson

7 Oct. 1987 Philadelphia, PA

Virgina Johnson

22 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA

William T. Johnson, Jr.

17 June 1987 Norcross, GA

Dorothy Gray Jones

7 Oct. 1986 Philadelphia, PA
Marvin Arthur Jones 9 Aug. 1985 Cedar City, UT
Eva Joseph 12 Oct. 1985 Oakland, CA
Ethel Ann Kelly 29 Sept. 1986 New York City, NY
Candace Kennedy 28 June 1986 Los Angeles, CA
Helen Kennedy 11 Apr. 1986 Ogden, UT
Raymond W. Keys 14 Oct. 1986 Richmond, VA
Barbara Lancaster 10 Mar. 1988 Masillon, OH
Charles Calvin Lancaster 10 Mar. 1988 Masillon, OH
Delores Lang 19 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA
Robert Lang 21 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA
Beverly Latimer 27 Sept. 1986 East Elmhurst, NY
Randolph E. Latimer 28 Sept. 1986 East Elmhurst, NY
Carol Elaine Lawrence 25 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Vincent Lewis 15 Oct. 1985 Pittsburg, CA
Ollie Mae Lofton 27 June 1985       Provo, UT
Richard Lowe                                         7 Nov. 1986        Hauula, HI
Cleolevia Lyons                                      9 Mar. 1988        Jackson, MI
Kenneth K. Mack                                    29 Apr. 1985      Logan, UT
James Mallory                                        28 May 1987       Stone Mountain, GA
Cherrie Lee Maples                                 12 Oct. 1986       Washington, D.C.
Melvin McCoy                                        11 Mar. 1988      Barberton, OH
Sharon McCoy                                        11 Mar. 1988      Barberton, OH
Clara Evans McIlwain                            11 Oct. 1986       McLean, VA
Johnnie McKoy                                       24 Jan. 1986        Greensboro, NC
Gloria McLaughlin                                 12 Jan. 1986        Charlotte, NC
Alfred McNair                                        14 June 1987       Gautur, MS
Melvin Mitchell                                       12 Mar. 1988      Columbus, OH
Carrie Elizabeth Morris                          18 Oct. 1986       Richmond, VA
Arlene Mosley                                         30 May 1987       Decatur, GA
Dan Mosley                                            26 Oct. 1985       Phoenix, AZ
Joan Mosley                                            28 Oct. 1985       Phoenix, AZ
Mavis Odoms                                         15 Oct. 1985       Fremont, CA
Mavis Odoms 15 Oct. 1985 Fremont, CA
Bonita O'Neal 12 Mar. 1988 Columbus, OH
Burgess Owens 29 Sept. 1986 Melville, NY
Esther B. Owens 13 Oct. 1986 Richmond, VA
Josephine Owens 26 Sept. 1986 Melville, NY
Robert A. Owens 13 Oct. 1986 Richmond, VA
Natalie Palmer-Taylor 15 Mar. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Janis E. Parker
2 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Wilie Perry Perkins 1 Feb. 1986 Greenville, NC
Beverly Perry 21 Oct. 1985 San Pedro, CA
John W. Phoenix 10 Oct. 1986 Arlington, VA
Audrey Marie Pinnock 16 May 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Barbara Ann Pixton 5 Nov. 1986 Honolulu, HI
Lois W. Poret 13 June 1987 New Orleans, GA
Frank Porter 4 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Tom Porter 9 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Martha A. Poston 29 May 1987 Dunwoody, GA
Arthur Preston 1 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Drianda Preston 1 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Pulley 19 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA
Melonie Quick 20 Jan. 1986 Charlotte, NC
Annette A. Reid 20 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Emanuel Lenard Reid 13 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Linda Reid 12 Feb. 1987 Provo, UT
Janet Rice 18 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO
Leonard Rice 18 Mar. 1988 St. Louis, MO
Debra Dionne Gooden Rodriguez 13 June 1987 New Orleans, LA
Junious Edwards Ross 16 Oct. 1985 San Jose, CA
Elijah Royster 10 Nov. 1986 Kula, Maui, HI
Doris Russell 27 June 1987 Los Angeles, CA
Brenda Sanderlin 16 Oct. 1985 San Jose, CA
Ed Scroggins 26 Oct. 1985 Phoenix, AZ
Rhonda Shelby 25 Feb. 1985 Provo, UT
Carl Angelo Simmons 16 May 1985 Logan, UT
James Henry Sinquefield 30 Mar. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Cleeretta Henderson Smiley 10 Oct. 1986 Silver Spring, MD
Gabriele Smith
26, 27 Sept.,
2 Oct. 1985
Provo, UT
Gwendolyn Lucille Jones Smith 13 June 1987 New Orleans, LA
Joseph C. Smith 12 Mar. 1985 Provo, UT
Marie Smith 4 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Marilyn Smith
12 Mar. 1985 Provo, UT
Mary E. Smith 6 June 1987 Jackson, MS
Hattie Soil 7 Mar. 1987 Chicago, IL
Victor Soil 7 Mar. 1987 Chicago, IL
Deborah Spearman 7 Oct. 1987 Philadelphia, PA
Boris Spencer 17 May 1985 Logan, UT
Rosetta Spencer 3 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Paul Staples 6 Nov. 1986 Honolulu, HI
Robert Lee Stevenson 31 May 1987 Carrollton, GA
Ardelia Stokes 2 Sept. 1985 Salt Lake City, UT
Catherine M. Stokes 6 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Rosa Lee Green Taylor 26 Oct. 1985 Phoenix, AZ
Rose S. Taylor 17 Oct. 1986 Chesterfield, VA
Thomas Ear Taylor 18 Oct. 1986 Chesterfield, VA
Marilyn Larine Thomas 5 June 1987 Jackson, MS
Natalia Thompson 5 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
William Thompson 28 May 1987 Decatur, GA
Larry Troutman 14 Oct. 1985 Oakland, CA
Vivian Troutman 14 Oct. 1985 Oakland, CA
Burl Turner, Jr. 11 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Gloria Turner 11 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Susan Walker 2 Mar. 1988 Chicago, IL
Karen Tonette Ward 6 June 1987 Jackson, MS
Maxine Wardlaw 22 Jan. 1986 Charlotte, NC
Katherine Warren 12 June 1987 New Orleans, LA
Benjamin R. Washington 15 Jan. 1986  Charlotte, NC
Lee Washington   23 Oct. 1985          Pasadena, CA
Jerry Watley 2 June 1987          Birmingham, AL
Phillip Webb      16 Mar. 1988          St. Louis, MO
Margie Ray White       16 Jan. 1986          Monroe, NC
Annie Wilbur    11 Aug. 1985  Provo, UT
Mary Angel Wilbur             1 Oct. 1986          New Kensington, PA
Winston A. Wilkinson      10 Oct. 1986          Olney, MD
Emma Williams      23 Jan. 1986          Hickory, NC
Linda Williams      3 Mar. 1988          Chicago, IL  
Cynthia Willis            17 Oct. 1985 Sunnyvale, CA
Eva Willis       17 Mar. 1987          St. Louis, MO
Jerry Willis      14 Mar. 1987          St. Louis, MO
Albert L. Wilson 2 Oct. 1986 Williamsport, PA
Doris Marie Wilson 2 Oct. 1986 Williamsport, PA
Nathaniel Womble 29 May 1987 Atlanta, GA
Ruby Womble 27 May 1987 Atlanta, GA
Dorothy Mae Wright 9 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Dunk Wright 9 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Jess Wright, Jr. 1 June 1987 Gadsden, AL
Michelle Evette Wright 9 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Richardo Wright 21 Oct. 1986 Aldie, VA
Shirley Walker Wright 11 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Van C. Wright, Sr. 10 June 1987 Baton Rouge, LA
Virginia K. Wright 14 Oct. 1986 Richmond, VA
Delphrine Garcia Young 22 Oct. 1985 Los Angeles, CA
INTERVIEWS BY JESSIE L. EMBRY
Alan Cherry 24, 25 Apr. 1985    Provo, UT
Charles W. Smith, Jr. 17 Mar. 1988 Provo, UT