A documentary made by BYU journalism students shares the inspiring story of the University of Wyoming’s Black 14. The short film will premiere Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Wilkinson Student Centre Varsity Theatre. A special screening will also be held for the BYU athletics department.
Fourteen University of Wyoming football players were kicked off their team in October 1969 after they showed their coach the black armbands they wanted to wear to a game against BYU to protest The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ racial policies.
More than 50 years later, the Black 14 has collaborated with the Church to donate more than 800,000 pounds of food to needy families. The group has reconciled with the University of Wyoming and with the Church, and their mission now is to not only to feed people but to educate and uplift them as well.
A team of BYU journalism students traveled to 11 states in 10 days this spring to visit with the Black 14 and tell their story.
The September 2022 issue of The Daily Universe Magazine cover story is about the Black 14 and their work with The Church. A PDF of the issue is here.
Learn more about the Black 14:
- Meet the Black 14.
- Learn how the Black 14 and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started working together.
- Find out how the Black 14 and the Church are combating food insecurity.
- Read a Q&A with Tracey Owens Patton, a professor at The University of Wyoming who has played an instrumental role in bringing a voice to the Black 14.
- Follow the journalists as they worked on the documentary
- Learn about the first private screening with members of the Black 14
