YES!
There Are Black People in Utah.
NO!
I Am Not a Mormon.
A Black Girl’s Journey to Belonging in 1960s and 70s Utah
The Power of Kindness
Eileen Cosby’s latest book is her account of life as a young African American girl growing up in a state where people who looked like her seemed to be hated and despised – but were they? She had a wonderful strong and close-knit family who loved and supported her. She lived in a happy, protected bubble for the first eight years of her life until reality set in when her parents were met with resistance to living in an all-white Utah neighborhood. She struggled with isolation, self-esteem, and self-identity issues during her elementary school experience.
As she was further exposed to the Mormon faith, she was confused with the kindness, a sense of belonging, respect, and love that she was shown by her Mormon friends, in contrast to their belief that black skin was a curse from God. More bubbles would pop along the way in high school and college, including encountering one prominent businessman’s fantasies of her black skin in white Mormon temple clothes. How did kindness and belonging help Eileen to endure the challenges she faced in Utah because of the skin she was born in, and the controversial doctrine and teachings the Mormons believed in? Discover and kindness and belonging conquer all.
Inside the Pages
✓ 20 Chapter book of transformative insights
✓ Real Stories of Connection and Healing
✓ Kindness & Belonging Prevails
✓ A Story of how love conquers hate
Book Reviews
5.0 out of 5 Stars Verified Purchase
Carolynn
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2025
“Very fast, easy read. Her words set up the emotions that you will certainly feel.”
Eileen Tucker Cosby’s Yes! There Are Black People in Utah. No! I’m Not Mormon. is a powerful, honest memoir about growing up Black in 1960s–70s Utah. With warmth and grace, Cosby reflects on life within a predominantly white, Mormon community that once viewed her as “cursed.” She writes not to accuse, but to understand—offering readers an intimate, compassionate look at resilience, faith, and identity. A deeply moving, essential read
5.0 out of 5 Stars Verified Purchase
LaMar Lisman
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2025
“A valuable insight into self reflection and moving forward”
An exceptional and inspiring window into finding one’s pathway through life. This book is for anyone who ever felt they did not fit or belonged, and how the kindness of others helped them come to understand they had worth and value just the way they are. A must read for anyone belonging to the LDS Church. As a member myself, I found tremendous insight in how to treat and interact with people not of my faith. The book is exceptionally well researched and offers thoughtful opportunities for discussions on faith, humility, racism, forgiveness, and living a life centered
5.0 out of 5 Stars Verified Purchase
Barbara C.
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2025
“An intelligent and interesting read!”
An insightful and thoughtful exploration of growing up Black in the white dominated culture of Utah. This book describes real life experiences in an open and honest way, but without anger and bitterness which could have been the focus. The background and precepts of the Mormon church are also factual but without judgement. This book is an intelligent and interesting read!
5.0 out of 5 Stars Verified Purchase
Mari M.
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2025
“A memoir that lingers long after the last page”
Most memoirs of childhood adversity either focus on the pain or the triumph, but Eileen Tucker Cosby manages to hold both in tension. What struck me most wasn’t just her clear-eyed honesty about the racism she endured in 1960s–70s Utah, but also her willingness to sit with the contradictions of her experience. She shows how kindness and exclusion often lived side by side, and how confusing that could be for a young girl trying to find her place in a community that often marked her as “less than.”
5.0 out of 5 Stars Verified Purchase
Earl Bell, Author of Winning in Baseball and Business
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2025
“Real life story provides real life lessons”
This book provides an authentic and revealing account about the author and her family’s life in Utah during the 1950’s through 1980’s. The book itself was a page turner and I read it in a couple of nights. Honest, raw, unimaginable, hopeful and very human are words I would use to describe this life story. Eileen also provides a framework for helping readers that want to bring more kindness and compassion into the world.
Introducing…
In a world full of wonderful differences, Be Kind to Every Kind helps children discover that kindness is for everyone — no matter their background, family, culture, abilities, or story. Through playful rhymes and vibrant, inclusive illustrations, young readers learn that differences should be celebrated, compassion is powerful, and kindness always has a place.
Created by Arizona author Eileen Tucker Cosby, this beautifully illustrated story encourages children to see the beauty in one another and to lead with empathy, friendship, and confidence.
Whether shared in a home, classroom, church, therapy setting, or library, this book inspires kids to grow kinder, braver, and more accepting — one page at a time.
Perfect for families, teachers, librarians, and community leaders who want to raise a generation that understands belonging, emotional intelligence, and the joy of diversity.
Children Will Learn:
- How to include others with kindness and confidence
- That differences make us beautiful, not separate
- How kindness builds friendships, trust, and belonging
- That everyone deserves respect — in every place and every situation
Create a Ripple of Kindness in Your Community.
Individuals, companies, and organizations are invited to sponsor kindness through bulk purchases of 5+ books for donation.
To ensure proper coordination with schools and children’s programs—and to provide you with available volume pricing and discounts—please contact us using our contact page