Black BYU professor urges Latter-day Saints to end âsin of racismâ Ryan Gabrielâs devotional speech was the first from a Black faculty member in 14 years. (Screenshot) Ryan Gabriel, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University, gives a devotional address online on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Â Â | April 7, 2021, 12:00 p.m. For the first time in more than a decade, a Black faculty member addressed students Tuesday at Brigham Young University during one of the religious schoolâs devotional talks, and he pointedly spoke about the âsin of racismâ that Latter-day Saints must reconcile. âOur church has made clear that racism does not fit a disciple of Christ,â said Ryan Gabriel, an assistant professor of sociology. But even with warnings from the prophets, he suggested, there still exists âhatred toward oneâs brothers and sisters, which is ultimately hatred toward God.â