“Healing Racism Through Jesus Christ” – Race and Racism

Dr. Ryan Gabriel-BYU Assistant Professor of Sociology

April 6, 2021 BYU Devotional Address

“Pride as it relates to race and racism can manifest with great subtlety, making it difficult to root out. As I mentioned before, being White is not simply another racial category; in our society, White individuals are at the top of the racial hierarchy, making them the default group that other racial groups are compared against. Because of this, it is not surprising that some major skin care companies sell skin-lightening lotion specifically targeted to people of color. These products imply that looking lighter and whiter is better. The root of this scheme is found in the adversary. In contrast, I invite you to not only come to know but to feel that you are a child of loving heavenly parents who created you to look just as you do. As President Russell M. Nelson stated, “Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. . . . God does not love one race more than another.”21 Hence, no matter what the world tells us, there is no need for us to look like anyone else for us to be worthy of love and respect. Our skin tones are as they should be, and they are beautiful.”