JESUS IS A BLACK MAN: REVISITING RELIGIOUS ICONOGRAPHY AND HISTORICAL TRUTH

T. C. Wanyanwu

Abstract

Religious iconography plays a crucial role in shaping faith and identity. However, historical misrepresentations of religious figures, particularly Jesus Christ, have had profound psychological, cultural, and theological implications. This paper examines the claims presented in Jesus Is a Black Man: An Inconvenient Truth by Nigerian author T.C. Wanyanwu, exploring the historical, biblical, and scientific arguments that challenge the dominant Eurocentric portrayal of Jesus Christ. By analyzing historical records, forensic evidence, and scriptural texts, this study seeks to contextualize the debate on Jesus’ racial identity and its impact on global Christianity. The work further delves into the sociopolitical motivations behind the whitewashing of Jesus and the psychological consequences of religious imagery on marginalized communities.

Keywords

Jesus Christ, race, religious iconography, historical revisionism, Eurocentrism, African heritage, black identity, psychological impact

1. Introduction

Religious images have played a pivotal role in shaping cultural and theological beliefs throughout history. Central to Christianity is Jesus Christ, whose portrayal has varied significantly across different cultures and periods. Despite historical evidence suggesting a Middle Eastern and possibly African-influenced heritage, the dominant Western image of Jesus remains that of a white European man. T.C. Wanyanwu’s book, Jesus Is a Black Man: An Inconvenient Truth, challenges this portrayal and argues that historical deception has obscured Jesus’ true racial identity.

This paper examines the central arguments in Wanyanwu’s work, addressing the historical, theological, and psychological implications of racialized religious imagery. It seeks to answer two fundamental questions:

1. How and why was Jesus Christ’s image transformed into that of a white European?
2. 2. What are the broader consequences of this transformation on black identity and religious perception?

2. The Historical Context of Jesus’ Racial Identity

2.1 Jesus’ Jewish and Middle Eastern Heritage

Scholars widely agree that Jesus was a Jew born in first-century Palestine, a region that historically included populations with Semitic, African, and Mediterranean ancestry. Biblical descriptions, combined with archaeological and forensic reconstructions, suggest that first-century Jews were likely of darker skin tones than the pale-skinned images popularized in European art.

2.2 African and Afro-Semitic Identities in Biblical Narratives

Wanyanwu argues that the racial identity of Jesus must also be examined in the context of ancient African and Semitic connections. Historical references suggest strong ties between Israelites and African populations, particularly through migration, intermarriage, and trade. The book highlights scriptural passages that describe figures like Moses, Solomon, and Jesus in terms that indicate non-European features.

3. The Whitewashing of Jesus: Art, Politics, and Religious Power

3.1 Renaissance Influence and the Cesare Borgia Theory

One of the most debated aspects of Wanyanwu’s work is his assertion that the modern image of a white Jesus originates from Renaissance Europe, particularly through depictions modeled after Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI. While this claim is controversial, historical analysis reveals that the widespread representation of Jesus as a white man gained traction during this period, aligning with European political and religious interests.

3.2 Colonialism and the Role of Religious Institutions

The spread of Christianity during European colonization reinforced the portrayal of Jesus as white. Missionaries, often operating alongside colonial powers, introduced Westernized Christian imagery to indigenous populations. Wanyanwu argues that this strategic racialization of Jesus served to legitimize European dominance while simultaneously diminishing black identity and spiritual agency.

4. Psychological and Cultural Implications of a White Jesus

4.1 The Clark Doll Test and Internalized Racism

Wanyanwu draws parallels between religious iconography and psychological conditioning, referencing the 1940s Clark Doll Test, in which black children associated white dolls with positive traits and black dolls with negative ones. He argues that the persistent depiction of Jesus as white contributes to similar internalized biases, influencing how black Christians perceive themselves in relation to divinity.

4.2 Religious Imagery and Black Identity

For many black Christians, the acceptance of a Eurocentric Jesus reinforces a subconscious sense of inferiority. Wanyanwu posits that restoring Jesus’ historical identity as a non-European figure could empower black communities by affirming their spiritual and cultural significance.

5. Biblical and Forensic Evidence Supporting a Non-European Jesus

5.1 Scriptural Descriptions of Jesus’ Appearance

Several biblical passages describe Jesus in ways that contradict traditional European imagery. For example, Revelation 1:14–15 describes Christ’s hair as “like wool” and his feet as “like burnt bronze.” Wanyanwu interprets these descriptions as indications of a darker complexion and African-adjacent features.

5.2 Forensic and Anthropological Reconstructions

Recent forensic reconstructions based on historical and genetic data suggest that a first-century Middle Eastern man would have had darker skin, short curly hair, and features more aligned with contemporary Middle Eastern or North African populations than with European depictions. Wanyanwu incorporates these findings to support his argument that Jesus was not white.

6. The Sociopolitical Resistance to a Black Jesus

6.1 Who Benefits from the Eurocentric Image of Jesus?

A fundamental question posed in Wanyanwu’s work is why the idea of a black Jesus evokes such strong resistance. If Jesus’ race is irrelevant, why has history been rewritten to depict Him as white? The book suggests that the deliberate racialization of Jesus was a tool of cultural control, benefiting European religious and political elites.

6.2 Theological Reconciliation and Moving Forward

Wanyanwu insists that acknowledging Jesus’ historical identity is not an act of racial superiority but rather a pursuit of truth. He calls for religious institutions to embrace more historically accurate representations of Jesus, emphasizing that the focus should remain on His teachings rather than His race.

7. Conclusion: A Call for Historical and Spiritual Clarity

The debate surrounding Jesus’ racial identity is not simply an academic or artistic issue — it is a deeply ingrained theological and psychological matter with far-reaching implications. Jesus Is a Black Man: An Inconvenient Truth challenges readers to reconsider long-standing assumptions about race, faith, and historical narrative.

Ultimately, Wanyanwu’s work serves as both a scholarly and spiritual call to action. It urges believers to question inherited religious imagery, seek historical accuracy, and foster a more inclusive faith that does not erase or diminish the contributions and identity of marginalized peoples.

8. References

• Herschel, S. (2008). The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany.
• • von Fleischer, A. (2012). How Jesus Christ Became White.
• • Clark, K., & Clark, M. (1947). Racial Identification and Preference in Negro Children.
• • Various biblical texts and forensic studies on Middle Eastern populations.