Jesus Was Black, Not White, Group Says

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 2/24/04 | Melanie Hunter

[kattracks]

(1st Add: Includes comments by Rev. Jesse Peterson, president of B.O.N.D.)

(CNSNews.com) - One day before it debuts in theaters, a black activist group is protesting the Mel Gibson-written, directed and produced "The Passion of the Christ" film, not because of the film's violent depiction of Jesus Christ's final hours. Instead, they say the film is historically inaccurate because Jesus is portrayed as a white man, not a black man.

"Strangely absent from the debate is one very basic inaccuracy which has been long promoted in order to bolster white supremacy and maintain a revisionist history that is beneficial to only people of European descent," said Malik Z. Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party in a statement Tuesday.

"This purposely omitted fact is that Jesus was not a European white man. Jesus Christ was a black man - a dark skinned Hebrew Israelite from Northern Africa and even the only Biblical physical description confirms this (Rev. 13:20)," said Shabazz.

"Not only does this film wrongfully depict Christ as white but all the disciples and Israelites are people of European descent, which presents a historical and physical impossibility," he added.

The New Black Panther Party and other black activists plan to stage protests nationwide over the controversy. Not only does the group claim the movie is "false," but also "harmful and racist."

The Anti-Defamation League recently expressed to Gibson its concern that the film would drum up anti-Semetism. Shabazz said his group disagrees with the ADL's claims that the film is "anti-semetic" and challenged the ADL to "deny the historical accuracy of the Jews' attack on Christ."

But Shabazz says, the "true controversy" surrounding the film "lies in the maligned history of African people through the world and the continual inaccuracies presented in every Hollywood production to date of any Biblical story from the 10 Commandments to the Christmas Story."

"These false images presented are 'anti-black' and these false images and interpretations only seek to further the racist and white supremist idea that God and Jesus Christ 'The Messiah' or 'Savior' is European and white," he added.

"This is clearly one more example of how black people in this country are treated unfairly. Black/African history has and continues to be misrepresented, black people worldwide are subjected to the psychologically abusive images of white supremacy and have no collective voice to defend or promote a Black agenda," Shabazz concluded.

Movie 'not racist,' says black conservative

But Rev. Jesse Peterson, president of the black conservative group, B.O.N.D. (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) said claims that Jesus is black takes away from the overall message.

Peterson said he saw the movie last weekend and "there's nothing in this movie that is racist at all."

"It was inspiring spiritually," he said. "I think that it's gonna reconfirm the faith in many Christians and it's gonna encourage those who had doubt about Christ. There will be many, I believe, that will believe in him. I knew that this thing would come out that 'he wasn't black' and that 'it's racist.' It's not."

Peterson explained that "the Bible clearly states that Christ was in Israel and that he was a Jew." The movie, he said "clearly points that out as well."

Peterson said to "cry racism is a non-issue. This is an attempt for attention. It's shameful to make that kind of assertion about this movie."

When asked specifically whether Shabazz's physical description of Jesus and his birthplace of Northern Africa was accurate, Peterson said, "I've heard that over and over again, and at one point when I resented white Americans, I believed that too."

But, he said, "in all honesty there is no, I think, perfect description of what Christ looked like anyway, and I think that each race…the white race at one point said that he looked white [with] blue eyes and blond hair. That wasn't true. The blacks are trying to claim him…Hispanics, everybody are trying to claim him as their own."

Peterson said that's why the Scripture clearly states "'do not create a graven image of him, because it will divide and cause confusion.'

"The most important thing is that he was a spirit. It's the spirit of the man, not necessarily what he looked like. And that's the focus that this movie brings out," Peterson said, adding that he thinks blacks and white are likely to focus on Jesus' "spirit rather than the color."

He said the Bible does point out that Jesus was "born in that area, but still he was a Jew, and at that time, maybe they didn't have the straight hair, but it doesn't mean he was…a black, African man."

Peterson said in the movie, Jesus is a dark-skinned man, not white with blue eyes, but a dark-skinned man. "He's not black, but he's not white either," he said.

Race not an issue

Peterson took the New Black Panther Party to task for making Jesus' race an issue.

"It's a shame that you have racist organizations like the New Black Panther Party that will come out and allow the devil or darkness to use them, because that's what's happening," he said. "It's a distraction. It's a trick of the devil to come out and call this movie racist…that he was black, he had nappy hair. That's a distraction."

Peterson believes the group is taking away from the spiritual message of the movie, a message, he said that can possibly help people that are hurting spiritually.

"I think that when people go to this movie, they need to look beyond the color. And I think most will, whether they want to or not…look at the spirit and the suffering that Christ went through," Peterson said.

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[Caipirabob]

Now you're crossing the line - lol!

[mdmathis6]

Hee hee! Though I wish Eve had spit some of that "red juice" in Satan's eye!

[Labyrinthos]

In Jesus' time, without such mixng, it is a reasonable assumption that the Hebrews were darker than many Jews of today, but not black.

The "Semites" generally consist of people whose geneological origin is from the areas now known as Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Southern Greece, Cyprus, and Northern Africa along the Mediterannean Coast. In the centuries before the birth of Christ, Semites crossed the Red Sea and ruled or occuppied what is now Ethiopia, and during that time period there were regular migrations between the two areas. As a result, I suspect that Jesus and other Semites living in the Holy Land during that time period had skin color ranging from light olive to dark brown, just like the Semites of today.

[GigaDittos]

Were Adam and Eve black too? Well according the Louis Farakan's name generator Adam's name is really Shekwan, Eve's name is really Zuwadza, and Jesus' name is really Cinque. Learn these names and start to use them today.

Oh btw, God's name is really Shawasha, cause I'm sure he is black too. /sarcasm

[Geritol]

"Since no one was alive back then, I really don't care myself."

In spite of the poorly constructed sentence, the point is valid. Not that my sentences are significantly better...

The most important color to know about Jesus is that his blood was red and it covers the sins of all who believe. As long as the blood is right, I do not care what nationality the actor protraying him belongs to.

[cyborg]

The actions of Jesus Christ are often overlooked by these people, or any other special interest group trying to use Christ for their political gains. Now that I'm not under the influence of cold medicine, I can say WHO GIVES A CRAP?! When I die, I'll be too busy explaining all the times I promised to stay on a diet or not have an impure though to worry what race Christ is.

[killjoy]

Temple of the Black Jesus

[Tall_Texan]

Your right. I formally apologize to Angels fans.

[luvbach1]

Re Ramses' "red hair".

Perahps he had red hair, but don't you think the hair color may have changed after several millenia?

[yarddog]

I have no idea whether the hair color would change or not.

I suppose those studying the mummy knew what they were doing.

[wai-ming]

Jesus had no biological father.

So, if they had performed a "paternity test" on him, what would his DNA show?

[Cronos]

On the other hand, doesn't tradition hold that David, one of Jesus ancestors, was red-headed?

I've never heard of that. I really doubt it. REd-heads and blondes in the first millenium would have still be considered unusual and in the time of David (approx. 1000 BC), they would have been barbarians, untrustworthy and very strange. When you talk about Jews, most of us here in the US think of European Jews, who are descendents not only of intermarriages (over 2000 years), but also converts (like the Kazar Empire in the 200s who converted en masse to Judaism). If you look at Yemeni Jews or Jews who lived in Arab lands, they're a lot darker, as dark as Egyptians or Western Indians.

[Cronos]

the fact that Ramses had red hair

WHat FACT??? Do you have any proof before you spout such rot? Ramsses the great with Red Hair. Ha Ha Ha!

What IS known is that the Kings of Upper Egypt before the country was unified were Ethiopian like (the Scorpion King, Narmer, etc.) while the Kings of Lower Egypt (the Delta region) were Semitic. The Old Kingdom Egyptians were a mix of Semites and Ethiopian-like Negroids. THe Middle Kingdom and Later Dynasties did come under the influence of Libyans, Semites (possibly the Hyksos) and Nubians. So they would have been a wide range of brown to black in color.

They would NOT have been white in color (too much sun for that), and 'race' wise would have been a mix between Caucasians and Negroids.

Even under the Greek rule from 300 BC onwards, red hair would have been unusual

Furthermore, where do you get your 'proof' that he was red-haired? From wall paintings? From archaeological evidence ? No. Egyptians of Ramsses the Great's day shaved their heads and wore wigs. He may have bought a wig dyed red or blonde or white, leading to your misconception.

But he was most definitely NOT pure CAucasoid and DEFINITELY not an Indo-European (the ones that tend to have the colored eyes). his descendents COULD have had some blood -- after all, didn't he marry a hittite princess? But I don't think the result of the union of that marriage became a Pharoah

[scott7278]

That's Revelation 3:20 ("Behold, I stand at the door...").

[GeronL]

LOL

That website had a typo.

[scott7278]

"I guess next they will be claiming he was gay also..."

That's already happened in the dramatic arts -- surprising, isn't it?

[scott7278]

I agree with your exclamation, although I would probably have to say it in a different way. :) Whether He was black or white or brown shouldn't matter -- people from "every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues" will stand before the throne and before the Lamb (Rev. 7:9), but only if their names are found written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev. 20:15, 21:27).

Using a musical analogy, a choir with harmony always sounds better than a unison choir. The more parts that are introduced, the better the music sounds. God has decided not to come for one type of culture, or one type of people, but all cultures and all peoples. God is glorified in this harmony of believers worshiping Him in spirit and in truth in their respective cultures.

It is interesting when people bring race into the equation, as it often is because of some agenda ("Jesus was for Jews only," "Jesus was for Gentiles only," "Jesus is the Black Messiah who is going to deliver us," etc.). God is more glorious than that -- He loves the world through His Son, and has promised eternal life to anyone who believes in Him (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13).

When any person or any group goes against John 3:16 and tries to claim Jesus as only for them, that is a serious insult to a just and loving God who is propitious toward sinners from all backgrounds and all walks of life through faith in Jesus Christ.

People are always missing the forest for the trees, and in this case, they missed the tree, too.

[yarddog]

Your post is pure nonsense.

Just where is your proof about the lower kingdom beingt a mixture of Negroes? Did you get that from the reverend Al? Maybe Louis Farrakhan.

As I said, that was on the "History Channel" and I suspect the program will be replayed several times if you want to watch it. They definitely did say Ramses had red hair.

As to the people being burned by the sun, that has nothing to do with their race. In his five volumne history of WWII. Winston Churchill mentions visiting his troops in North Afica and being surprised to see them as dark as the native Arabs from the sun.

[Cronos]

Just where is your proof about the lower kingdom beingt a mixture of Negroes

I didn't say the Lower Kingdom was a Mixture of Negroes, I said they WERE Negroes, or at least Ethiopians (who are QUITE distinct from West Africans in Appearance and physical structure).

The Combined Kingdom DID become a mixture and under the Nubian Kings quite definitely more Ethiopian-like.

Ramsses with red hair

There may have been something in the mummification materials that turned hair a reddish- brown. This is seen also on the mummy of Kind Ramsses II. I think it would probably only show on the mummies with white or grey hair though.

Ramses II had dyed red hair.  This is substantiated by viewing his    preserved remains which show white roots at the base of dyed red hair. 

[R. Scott]

A Black African Semite?
Oh well, they same bunch claim the Ptolemy dynasty (Greek) was black.