Darius Gray facts for kids

Darius Gray is an important African-American speaker and writer. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Darius Gray was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964. He studied at Brigham Young University and then the University of Utah. For a time, he worked as a journalist.

Helping His Community

Darius Gray has dedicated much of his life to serving others. He has helped people learn about their family history. He has also shared stories about African Americans in the Bible and in his church.

The Genesis Group

In 1971, Darius Gray helped start the Genesis Group. This group was created to support African-American members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a leader in the group when it began. Later, he became its president from 1997 to 2003.

Family History Work

Darius Gray also worked on a special project. He helped lead the Freedmen's Bank Records project. This project helped African Americans find their ancestors. It used old bank records to trace family lines. This work helps people learn about their family's past.

Sharing Stories and History

Darius Gray is a well-known speaker. He travels across the United States to share his knowledge. He talks about African-American genealogy, which is the study of family history. He also speaks about the history of Black people in his church.

He has written a series of historical novels with Margaret Blair Young. These books are called "Standing on the Promises." He also helped create a documentary film with her. It is called "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons."

Awards and Recognition

Darius Gray has received several awards for his work. In 2008, the NAACP in Utah gave him the Martin Luther King Jr. award. This award honored his efforts to promote equality. In 2011, he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Featured in Documentaries

Darius Gray has appeared in several documentaries. In 2007, he was in the PBS documentary The Mormons. He also spoke at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. He is also featured in the BYU Television series Questions and Ancestors.

Important Contributions

Darius Gray helped develop an important essay. This essay is called "Race and the Priesthood." It was published on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website in 2013. In 2014, the Mormon History Association honored him. They recognized his important contributions to Mormon history.

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