Why Is Jesus Often Portrayed As Being Caucasian When Most Biblical Scholars Believe He Was African-American?

Question

I think his message of Peace, Love, Tolerance, and Understanding are MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the color of his skin. What do you guys think?

On a side note, have a look at this very enlightening piece on how some folks perceive "their Jesus."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDC2iBQTYg

Answer 1

Dude, don't try to be so politically correct! Just say "Black".

The representations that most of see of Jesus were created by Western Europeans. Since people want their gods to resemble themselves physically, they made him look like a Western European.

Answer 2

he was an Israelite  not african  or American  but the  pictures  are  not what he looked like as no one  knows.

Answer 3

Name one Biblical scholar who thinks Jesus was African American.

Side note:  You are not a Biblical scholar so you don't count

Answer 4

Um... Jesus was Jewish. That's neither caucasian or african american.  

Answer 5

Most likely he was closer to looking middle eastern.

Answer 6

1. He wasn't from America, so he could not have been African American.

2. African does not denote skin color, since many Caucasians are native to Africa. That's why using the term, "African American" to refer to skin color, is an ignorant misnomer.

3. Jesus was born in Israel and made the trip to Africa after he was a little older. He was a good Jewish boy.

Jesus did NOT preach a message of peace, love, tolerance, and understanding. He said his followers would be hated by all nations for His name's sake, and that they would be blessed because of that. He said He came not to bring peace but a sword, that because of Him, the members of a man's house would be that man's enemies, that a daughter would turn on her mother.  His coming and dying and rising again was to bring peace between man and God, because until there is peace between man and God, there can be no peace between man and man.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved, it is the power and wisdom of God.

Answer 7

LOL!!!  African American?  You seriously need a history lesson, there were no African Americans 2,000 years ago.  I wish you were joking, the level of stupidity would be less frightening.

Answer 8

Jesus was Jewish and the King of the Jews. As for why He is depicted as caucasian, etc those are merely artists' impressions and ideas and therefore subject to their own prejudices. No one knows what Jesus looked like because He is never physically described. We do know He was Jewish and the Son of God

Answer 9

HELLO

Jesus was a Jew so that means he was of Middle Eastern decent. Biblical scholars? Wow! I like to know who the scholars are? Jesus was not even American!! Nice try though :)

Answer 10

For starters, if there was a historical Jesus, he would likely have been Semitic.  He certainly could not have been African American, because there were not Africans in the Americas at that time.  It's certainly possible that he was African (as opposed to Semitic), as well, of course, but he couldn't have been African American, if he ever existed.

To the meat of your question:

Christianity is a particularly syncratic type of religion, and has morphed itself into a wide variety of shapes in order to fit into individual cultures.  In Europe, Jesus and his people are often portrayed as white skinned.  In Mexico, some Madonnas and some Jesus iconography appear Mestizo or Indigena.  In the American South and in Africa, Jesus is sometimes portrayed as black.  In other words, the way that Jesus, and the religion as a whole, is portrayed has more to do with local tradition and culture than with historical evidence.  

Answer 11

lol

He was a Jew

Answer 12

Actually, friend, most Biblical scholars do not believe Jesus was black.

Most Biblical scholars believe he was a Semite, since he was A JEW.

Holy c**p.

What, Martin Luther King was Asian? Gandhi was blonde and blue-eyed? Mother Teresa was a redhead with freckles? Well, no, they weren't, and Jesus wasn't black.

Answer 13

Jesus was born in the Middle-East, so He probably looked like most Middle-Easterners do. What you say is true though. America has made an acceptable Jesus in today's time.  

Answer 14

How could He have been African American when He wasn't from America?

Answer 15

it really doesnt matter

Answer 16

When Christians visited Europe, not many people knew what Jesus looked like. European artists just took the common European look; Caucasian, tall, handsome people, and portrayed Jesus that way.

Answer 17

I have to agree with everyone else.  Although I understand the point you are trying to make.  He WASNT WHITE and most picture show him with Blonde Hair and Blue eyes.  The bible says he had hair of wool and skin of bronze.

The Jews of the third century were dark haired and olive skinned, which is the common assumption of the Christ's features in the academic sector.

Answer 18

I believe that Jews had darker skin back then, but it would be ridiculous to call them "African-American".

Answer 19

I don't know he is neither white nor black he is Jewish which means arabic, don't you think.

Answer 20

Jesus was Jewish, not African-American....those countries did not even exist at the time Jesus was born.

Those images are an artist's perception...maybe the artist was Caucasian