ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Black people in Mormon doctrine

In the past, some groups of people had the belief that certain races were superior or better than others. This belief is called racism, and it happened a lot in America a long time ago.

The Mormon Church is a religious group that started in America in the 1800s. At one point in time, they had a belief that people with dark skin were not as good as people with light skin. They even believed that people with dark skin were cursed by God!

This belief was called the "Curse of Cain," and it affected black people. Mormons used to think that black people couldn't be members of their church or hold important roles within it. This made black people feel excluded and hurt.

Thankfully, the Mormon Church has changed a lot since then. They no longer believe in the Curse of Cain, and black people are welcome to be members and hold important positions within the church. It's important to remember that everyone is equal and should be treated with respect, no matter the color of their skin.