By: W. Paul Reeve - February 16, 2012 People of African descent have been a part of the Mormon movement from its founding year, 1830, when a former slave known only in the historical record as “Black Pete” joined the fledgling faith.  Although their numbers were small, blacks continued to join across the nineteenth century, even as the space for full black participation diminished over time.  Prior to Joseph Smith, Jr.’s dea...
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