Now to the more interesting observations. How will blacks react to "The Passion"? My answer to this will sound absolutely insane to some – particularly to white readers, who know that all too many blacks are crazy but don't know quite how crazy – but bear with me, because a sizable sector of the American black population will react in the way I am predicting. One main complaint amongst some blacks will be that this movie does not represent black people because in their minds, Jesus was black.
Don't believe me? Then take it from Malik Z. Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party. Shabazz believes "The Passion" is "harmful and racist" because of "one very basic inaccuracy which has been long-promoted in order to bolster white supremacy." That basic inaccuracy, according to Shabazz? "Jesus was not a European white man. Jesus Christ was a black man." Shabazz even complains about the lack of black actors in the film. His motto seems to be: "History be damned – where are the black actors, and where's Jesus' afro!"
This is hardly a scarce notion amongst black Americans. Believe me. I live in the black community. Many believe this! Some of my own relatives even believe this! Therefore, many blacks believe that Christianity is the white man's religion and that Islam is the true religion of black folks!
As a black conservative, I feel that I must respond that what is presented here is so much hyperbole.
Certainly I wouldn't denty that there are those within the black community who hold that Jesus was black, but such a view is one that is only held by a tiny minority, even within the black community.
Look where the author goes for evidence of his claim ... ' ... the chairman of the New Black Panther Party ?
Well, ... what did you think he was gonna say ?
Most American blacks understand that Jesus was a Semite, i.e. akin to the Jews and the Arabs. As such, He was probably darker than He is, typically, depicted, but He was not black, either.
More to the point ... most black Americans understand that who Jesus was is not really about what race He may have been, ... but, rather, ... it is about what He did, in a spiritual sense, ... for the whole of the human race.
;o)