diff --git a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextManager.m b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextManager.m
index b2832a800..31ae67c03 100644
--- a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextManager.m
+++ b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextManager.m
@@ -51,11 +51,7 @@ RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(maximumNumberOfLines, NSInteger)
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(shadowOffset, CGSize)
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(textAlign, NSTextAlignment)
 RCT_REMAP_SHADOW_PROPERTY(backgroundColor, textBackgroundColor, UIColor)
-RCT_CUSTOM_SHADOW_PROPERTY(containerBackgroundColor, UIColor, RCTShadowText)
-{
-  view.backgroundColor = json ? [RCTConvert UIColor:json] : defaultView.backgroundColor;
-  view.isBGColorExplicitlySet = json ? YES : defaultView.isBGColorExplicitlySet;
-}
+RCT_REMAP_SHADOW_PROPERTY(containerBackgroundColor, backgroundColor, UIColor)
 RCT_CUSTOM_SHADOW_PROPERTY(numberOfLines, NSInteger, RCTShadowText)
 {
   NSLineBreakMode truncationMode = NSLineBreakByClipping;
diff --git a/React/Base/RCTRootView.m b/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
index 980d253d3..23100f5e2 100644
--- a/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
+++ b/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
@@ -48,10 +48,11 @@
   RCTBridge *_bridge;
   NSString *_moduleName;
   NSDictionary *_launchOptions;
+  UIColor *_backgroundColor;
   RCTRootContentView *_contentView;
 }
 
-  - (instancetype)initWithBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
+- (instancetype)initWithBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
                     moduleName:(NSString *)moduleName
 {
   RCTAssertMainThread();
@@ -87,6 +88,17 @@
   return [self initWithBridge:bridge moduleName:moduleName];
 }
 
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  _backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  _contentView.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+}
+
+- (UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  return _backgroundColor;
+}
+
 - (UIViewController *)backingViewController
 {
   return _backingViewController ?: [super backingViewController];
@@ -100,7 +112,6 @@
 RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(AppRegistry, runApplication)
 RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
 
-
 - (void)javaScriptDidLoad:(NSNotification *)notification
 {
   RCTBridge *bridge = notification.userInfo[@"bridge"];
@@ -124,6 +135,7 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
     [_contentView removeFromSuperview];
     _contentView = [[RCTRootContentView alloc] initWithFrame:self.bounds
                                                       bridge:bridge];
+    _contentView.backgroundColor = _backgroundColor;
     [self addSubview:_contentView];
 
     NSString *moduleName = _moduleName ?: @"";
@@ -187,9 +199,17 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
 
 - (void)setFrame:(CGRect)frame
 {
-  [super setFrame:frame];
+  super.frame = frame;
   if (self.reactTag && _bridge.isValid) {
-    [_bridge.uiManager setFrame:self.bounds forRootView:self];
+    [_bridge.uiManager setFrame:frame forRootView:self];
+  }
+}
+
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  super.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  if (self.reactTag && _bridge.isValid) {
+    [_bridge.uiManager setBackgroundColor:backgroundColor forRootView:self];
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.h b/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.h
index 6fa0e3249..829c1aeff 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.h
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.h
@@ -36,10 +36,16 @@
 
 /**
  * Update the frame of a root view. This might be in response to a screen rotation
- * or some other layout event outsde of the React-managed view hierarchy.
+ * or some other layout event outside of the React-managed view hierarchy.
  */
 - (void)setFrame:(CGRect)frame forRootView:(UIView *)rootView;
 
+/**
+ * Update the background color of a root view. This is usually triggered by
+ * manually setting the background color of the root view with native code.
+ */
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)color forRootView:(UIView *)rootView;
+
 /**
  * Schedule a block to be executed on the UI thread. Useful if you need to execute
  * view logic after all currently queued view updates have completed.
diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.m b/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.m
index ec12aa6fb..6b88f05d3 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.m
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTUIManager.m
@@ -338,17 +338,14 @@ static NSDictionary *RCTViewConfigForModule(Class managerClass, NSString *viewNa
   _viewRegistry[reactTag] = rootView;
   CGRect frame = rootView.frame;
 
-  // Register manager (TODO: should we do this, or leave it nil?)
-  _viewManagerRegistry[reactTag] = _viewManagers[@"RCTView"];
-
   // Register shadow view
   dispatch_async(_shadowQueue, ^{
     RCTShadowView *shadowView = [[RCTShadowView alloc] init];
     shadowView.reactTag = reactTag;
     shadowView.frame = frame;
-    shadowView.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
+    shadowView.backgroundColor = rootView.backgroundColor;
+    shadowView.viewName = NSStringFromClass([rootView class]);
     _shadowViewRegistry[shadowView.reactTag] = shadowView;
-
     [_rootViewTags addObject:reactTag];
   });
 }
@@ -372,6 +369,22 @@ static NSDictionary *RCTViewConfigForModule(Class managerClass, NSString *viewNa
   });
 }
 
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)color forRootView:(UIView *)rootView
+{
+  RCTAssertMainThread();
+
+  NSNumber *reactTag = rootView.reactTag;
+  RCTAssert(RCTIsReactRootView(reactTag), @"Specified view %@ is not a root view", reactTag);
+
+  dispatch_async(_shadowQueue, ^{
+    RCTShadowView *rootShadowView = _shadowViewRegistry[reactTag];
+    RCTAssert(rootShadowView != nil, @"Could not locate root view with tag #%@", reactTag);
+    rootShadowView.backgroundColor = color;
+    [self _amendPendingUIBlocksWithStylePropagationUpdateForRootView:rootShadowView];
+    [self flushUIBlocks];
+  });
+}
+
 /**
  * Unregisters views from registries
  */
@@ -799,6 +812,11 @@ RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(createView:(NSNumber *)reactTag
   }
   _shadowViewRegistry[reactTag] = shadowView;
 
+  // Shadow view is the source of truth for background color this is a little
+  // bit counter-intuitive if people try to set background color when setting up
+  // the view, but it's the only way that makes sense given our threading model
+  UIColor *backgroundColor = shadowView.backgroundColor;
+
   [self addUIBlock:^(RCTUIManager *uiManager, RCTSparseArray *viewRegistry){
     RCTAssertMainThread();
 
@@ -807,14 +825,15 @@ RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(createView:(NSNumber *)reactTag
 
       // Generate default view, used for resetting default props
       if (!uiManager->_defaultViews[viewName]) {
-        // Note the default is setup after the props are read for the first time ever
-        // for this className - this is ok because we only use the default for restoring
-        // defaults, which never happens on first creation.
+        // Note the default is setup after the props are read for the first time
+        // ever for this className - this is ok because we only use the default
+        // for restoring defaults, which never happens on first creation.
         uiManager->_defaultViews[viewName] = [manager view];
       }
 
       // Set properties
       view.reactTag = reactTag;
+      view.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
       if ([view isKindOfClass:[UIView class]]) {
         view.multipleTouchEnabled = YES;
         view.userInteractionEnabled = YES; // required for touch handling
diff --git a/React/Views/RCTShadowView.h b/React/Views/RCTShadowView.h
index 83350ac46..c2e10750d 100644
--- a/React/Views/RCTShadowView.h
+++ b/React/Views/RCTShadowView.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ typedef void (^RCTApplierBlock)(RCTSparseArray *);
 @property (nonatomic, weak, readonly) RCTShadowView *superview;
 @property (nonatomic, assign, readonly) css_node_t *cssNode;
 @property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *viewName;
-@property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL isBGColorExplicitlySet; // Used to propagate to children
 @property (nonatomic, strong) UIColor *backgroundColor; // Used to propagate to children
 @property (nonatomic, assign) RCTUpdateLifecycle layoutLifecycle;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL hasOnLayout;
diff --git a/React/Views/RCTShadowView.m b/React/Views/RCTShadowView.m
index e5975dff2..7a0e9e421 100644
--- a/React/Views/RCTShadowView.m
+++ b/React/Views/RCTShadowView.m
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ typedef enum {
   NSMutableArray *_reactSubviews;
   BOOL _recomputePadding;
   BOOL _recomputeMargin;
+  BOOL _isBGColorExplicitlySet;
   float _paddingMetaProps[META_PROP_COUNT];
   float _marginMetaProps[META_PROP_COUNT];
 }
@@ -515,6 +516,7 @@ RCT_STYLE_PROPERTY(FlexWrap, flexWrap, flex_wrap, css_wrap_type_t)
 - (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)color
 {
   _backgroundColor = color;
+  _isBGColorExplicitlySet = YES;
   [self dirtyPropagation];
 }
 
diff --git a/React/Views/RCTViewManager.m b/React/Views/RCTViewManager.m
index 8230e398d..311167761 100644
--- a/React/Views/RCTViewManager.m
+++ b/React/Views/RCTViewManager.m
@@ -228,36 +228,38 @@ RCT_VIEW_BORDER_RADIUS_PROPERTY(BottomRight)
 
 #pragma mark - ShadowView properties
 
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(top, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(right, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(bottom, CGFloat);
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(backgroundColor, UIColor)
+
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(top, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(right, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(bottom, CGFloat)
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(left, CGFloat);
 
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(width, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(height, CGFloat);
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(width, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(height, CGFloat)
 
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderTopWidth, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderRightWidth, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderBottomWidth, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderLeftWidth, CGFloat);
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderTopWidth, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderRightWidth, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderBottomWidth, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderLeftWidth, CGFloat)
 RCT_CUSTOM_SHADOW_PROPERTY(borderWidth, CGFloat, RCTShadowView) {
   [view setBorderWidth:[RCTConvert CGFloat:json]];
 }
 
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginTop, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginRight, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginBottom, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginLeft, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginVertical, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginHorizontal, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(margin, CGFloat);
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginTop, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginRight, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginBottom, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginLeft, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginVertical, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(marginHorizontal, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(margin, CGFloat)
 
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingTop, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingRight, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingBottom, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingLeft, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingVertical, CGFloat);
-RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingHorizontal, CGFloat);
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingTop, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingRight, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingBottom, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingLeft, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingVertical, CGFloat)
+RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(paddingHorizontal, CGFloat)
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(padding, CGFloat);
 
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(flex, CGFloat)
@@ -268,12 +270,6 @@ RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(alignItems, css_align_t)
 RCT_EXPORT_SHADOW_PROPERTY(alignSelf, css_align_t)
 RCT_REMAP_SHADOW_PROPERTY(position, positionType, css_position_type_t)
 
-RCT_CUSTOM_SHADOW_PROPERTY(backgroundColor, UIColor, RCTShadowView)
-{
-  view.backgroundColor = json ? [RCTConvert UIColor:json] : defaultView.backgroundColor;
-  view.isBGColorExplicitlySet = json ? YES : defaultView.isBGColorExplicitlySet;
-}
-
 RCT_REMAP_SHADOW_PROPERTY(onLayout, hasOnLayout, BOOL)
 
 @end