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.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[yonif]

I knew it. I was telling my friend the other day that this was going to happen. Then again, this was not a very hard prediction to make.

[per loin]

The powers of evil gather together against this film.

[KQQL]

Jesus MAMA Mary being Jewish,,,,,it's good bet Jesus was
Olive complex.....but not black or fair skin while on earth..

And since most people in middle east area are considered white, then technicaly Jesus was white;

[cyborg]

Rev 1:
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.


Of course this does not indicate anything in the way of race or whatever. This is what is usually quoted to prove Jesus was black, but it doesn't prove he's white either. Bethlehem was a major trading area to begin with with people from all over that part of the world passing through.

[woofie]

I abit bit hetitant to post this but this is Kinky talkin not me

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>This next one is off our new ABC-Dunghill album, it-a, it’s a song we’re gonna send out to all niggers, Jews, and Sigma Nus out there tonight now, and when the Jews take over the world we’re gonna reduce the speed limit to 54 95, always like to mention that. This tune’s for you right now, this is one that I believe I begin myself, right ?


They Ain’t Makin’ Jews LiKe Jesus Anymore
(Kinky Friedman)

Well, a redneck nerd in a bowling shirt was a-guzzlin’ Lone Star beer
Talking religion and-uh politics for all the world to hear.
“They oughta send you back to Russia, boy, or New York City one,
You just want to doodle a Christian girl and you killed God’s only son.”
I said, “Has it occurred to you, you nerd, that that’s not very nice,
We Jews believe it was Santa Claus that killed Jesus Christ!”
“You know, you don’t look Jewish,” he said, “near as I could figger
I had you lamped for a slightly anemic, well-dressed country nigger.”

No, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore,
They don’t turn the other cheek the way they done before.
He started in to shoutin’ and spittin’ on the floor,
Lord, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore.

He says, “I ain’t a racist but Aristitle Onassis is one Greek we don’t need,
And them niggers, Jews and Sigma Nus, all they ever do is breed.
And wops ‘n micks ‘n slopes ‘n spics ‘n spooks are on my list —
And there’s one little hebe from the heart of Texas — is there anyone I missed ?”

The Albinos !!

Oh oh, now, thank you, man, all right!

Thank you.

You’re welcome!

Well, I hits him with everything I had right square between the eyes.
I says, “I’m gonna gitcha, you son of a bitch ya, for spoutin’ that pack of lies.
If there’s one thing I can’t abide, it’s an ethnocentric racist;
Now you take back that thing you said ’bout Aristitle Onassis.”

No, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore,
We don’t turn the other cheek the way we done before.
You could hear that honky holler as he hit that hardwood floor,
Lord, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore.
Wichita!

No, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore,
They ain’t making carpenters who know what nails are for.
Well, the whole damn place was singin’ as I strolled right out the door
Lord ..........
Panama, help him out in his place!
Hmm, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore.

Thank you very much.

We are selling these little ball-point pens this evening. Er, if you want one of these buggers please send a ... now these are autographed by ol’ Kinky hisself. If you want one they go for 9.95, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Ball-point Pen care of ABC-Dunghill Records, Hollywood, California, 902403, remember this California, 902403, remember this California, 902403.

Thank you, you’re a good little church worker, thank you.

You’re welcome!

We’re gonna feature Wichita on one of my favorite tunes now, I’ve always enjoyed this one enormously. Which one do you wanna do now, Wichita ? It’s called ’Cherokee Shuffle’, all right, take it away boychick, take it away!.

[MacDorcha]

i always figured something along the lines of:

Jesus is the Son of God. God created US in His image. God looks like ALL of us. Jesus had mauve polka-dots for all we know.

only question is... what colour is mauve? im male... it eludes me.

[Qwinn]

Huh? How could that quote be construed to prove that he was black? Because of brass feet? It also says he had a white "head" and "hairs". Now if someone can tell me how a head can be white when you've already accounted for the hair without the -skin- being white........

Man. Talk about a -stretch-.

Qwinn

[cyborg]

What point are you trying to make?

[jokar]

Your comments are inappropriate for this thread and I don't think they are in keeping with the level of discourse expected on this site.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Not that it would matter if He was black, but I find it hard to believe when His lineage is clearly stated in the scriptures.

[MacDorcha]

side-note:

a random epiphany.... you will never find a Black Panther with an African accent.

[KangarooJacqui]

Jesus was pale green with purple spots... /sarcasm

WHO CARES, this is just another excuse for some lunatic fringe group to get attention. *Yawn*

[woofie]

I cant say it any better than Kinky ...

[cyborg]

That's what I used to ask these people. Then I'd ask exactly how would Jesus being black, change the life of any black person living in America today? More than that, did they read the rest of the gospels and NT as well... ((((crickets))) is usually the response.

[cyborg]

yep

[Prime Choice]

I couldn't give a good rip if Jesus of Nazareth was red, white, black or blue. His melanin count is irrelevant. His message is what mattered.

Anyone who focuses on the Son of God's pigmentation rather than His message is either a fool or an apostate.

[cyborg]

That's a real song?

[KangarooJacqui]

LOL... see my post #72. I think you said it better, though.

[wai-ming]

We get our genes from both parents, not just the mother.

Jesus was male. (I know, I know that is under dispute from the liberals and feminists too.) If he had DNA, he would have had a Y chromosome. That didn't come from Mary. Whom did he inherit it from? Could he not have received other physical features from the same source (his father)?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Poor Mel was forced to use his second choice to play Jesus, since Sammy Davis, Jr. is now dead...