Grace Thompson
The debate over Jesus' skin colour is one of the oldest in religion. While the Gospels do not describe Jesus' physical appearance, some argue that, as a Palestinian Jew, he likely had darker skin and swarthier complexion than his traditional Western image. Others have pointed to visions and religious texts, such as the Quran and Hadith, which provide varying descriptions of Jesus, including reddish or wheatish complexion, curly hair, and freckles. The depiction of Jesus as white has been criticised for perpetuating notions of white superiority and normalising white chauvinism. Artists have reimagined Jesus as a person of colour, while some Christians remain hesitant to let go of the traditional image.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Jesus's skin color | Caucasian, Black, Brown, Wheatish, Reddish |
| Jesus's hair | Curly, Straight, Short, Lank |
| Jesus's beard | Short and cropped |
| Jesus's eyes | Brown |
| Jesus's race | Semitic ancient Israelite of Western Asia, Palestinian Jew |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus was a Palestinian Jew
The question of Jesus' ethnicity and appearance has been a subject of debate among scholars, theologians, and artists for centuries. While there is no consensus on his exact skin colour or racial background, it is historically accepted that Jesus was a Jew, specifically a Jewish preacher and religious leader.
Jesus is believed to have been born in Bethlehem, a city in the ancient region of Judea, which was then under the rule of the Roman Empire. The debate arises when considering the modern-day equivalent of this region, with some arguing that it corresponds to present-day Israel, while others assert it is Palestine. This discrepancy stems from historical context; the term "Palestine" and the distinction of Palestinian people have evolved over time.
At the time of Jesus' birth, the region was known as Judea or Judaea, and its inhabitants were referred to as Jews. This is evident in the biblical accounts of his life, where he is often referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth," indicating his association with the region. Additionally, in the Gospel of John, the disciple Philip refers to him as "Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth," further emphasising his Jewish roots.
However, after the Jewish revolt against Roman rule, the Romans renamed the region "Syria Palaestina" or "Palestine" as a punitive measure to remove the Jewish association with the land. This renaming occurred centuries after Jesus' lifetime, so it is historically accurate to state that Jesus was a Jew from the region of Judea, which was under Roman rule at the time.
In terms of his physical appearance, there are varying descriptions provided by different sources. Quranic and hadith traditions offer oral depictions, with some variations. For instance, some accounts describe Jesus as having curly hair and a reddish complexion, while others mention straight hair and a wheatish or brown complexion.
Mark Goodacre, a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, proposed that Jesus likely had darker skin and swarthier complexion than his traditional Western image, based on third-century images from a synagogue. Goodacre also suggested that Jesus probably had short, curly hair and a cropped beard.
The depiction of Jesus as a white man, which gained widespread popularity and distribution in the 20th century, has been criticised by some as perpetuating a narrow understanding of Jesus and denying the image of God in people of colour. Artists and theologians have reimagined Jesus as having dark skin, reflecting the belief that his appearance aligns with that of modern-day Israelis or Middle Easterners.
In conclusion, while the specific details of Jesus' appearance may remain uncertain, the historical and textual evidence strongly suggests that he was a Jew from the region of Judea, which was under Roman rule at the time. The debate surrounding his ethnicity as a Palestinian Jew or a Judean Jew arises from the evolving geopolitical landscape of the region, with the term "Palestine" and the identity of Palestinian people taking on different meanings over the centuries.
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The Shroud of Turin
The shroud has been venerated for centuries, especially by members of the Catholic Church, who see it as Jesus's shroud, upon which his image was miraculously imprinted. In 1506, Pope Julius II authorized the veneration of the Shroud as a true relic of Jesus. The human image on the shroud can be discerned more clearly in a black-and-white photographic negative than in its natural sepia colour, an effect discovered in 1898 by Italian photographer Secondo Pia, who produced the first photographs of the shroud.
The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin is controversial. In 1389, the bishop of Troyes, Pierre d’Arcis, denounced it as a forgery. In 1978, microscopist and forensic expert Walter McCrone examined samples taken from the surface of the shroud and found that the image had been painted with a dilute solution of red ochre pigment in a gelatin medium. However, more recent studies have used modern science to examine threads from throughout the shroud. These studies found that the threads dated to approximately 33 AD when Jesus would have died, and that the material of the shroud is Middle Eastern. They also found pollen local to the area, as well as blood of type AB, which is a rare blood type common among Israeli Jews.
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Quranic and hadith traditions
While there are no descriptions of Jesus's appearance in the Quran, there are several in the Hadith. These include descriptions from Sahih Bukhari, as well as tafsir, which provide an oral depiction of Jesus's appearance. However, some accounts contradict each other. For example, some sources describe Jesus as having curly hair and a reddish complexion, while others describe him as having straight hair and a wheatish complexion. Another account describes Jesus as having a reddish complexion, curly hair, and a broad chest.
Some scholars, like Salim ibn Abd-Allah, report that Jesus did not have a reddish complexion, but rather was described as "a man of brown complexion and lank hair". This is supported by four hadiths in Bukhari and three hadiths in Imam Muslim. However, other narrations give variations in colour, with Abd Allah ibn Abbas describing Jesus as having a "moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colours and of lank hair".
In Islamic thought, Jesus is believed to be a prophet chosen by God to present a judgment upon humanity and a challenge to turn to the one true God. He is also believed to be a precursor to the prophet Muhammad, with the Quran stating that Jesus predicted the coming of Muhammad. Muslim tradition also holds that Jesus will descend upon earth at the end of time to fight the Antichrist.
In the 20th century, theories emerged suggesting that Jesus was black, although this was not necessarily tied to a specific African ethnicity. Instead, it was argued that the ancient Israelites of Western Asia were originally black, either in whole or in part. This interpretation was supported by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., who identified the struggle of Jesus against authorities with the struggle of African Americans.
Other attempts to determine Jesus's race and appearance have been made through forensic anthropology, using first-century Jewish skulls to construct a face that differed significantly from traditional depictions in Renaissance art. Mark Goodacre, a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, proposed that Jesus's skin colour would have been darker and swarthier than his traditional Western image, based on third-century images from a synagogue. Goodacre also suggested that Jesus would have had short, curly hair and a short-cropped beard, supported by a reference in the First Epistle to the Corinthians.
Despite these various interpretations, the traditional depiction of Jesus as a white man has been widely distributed and endorsed by prominent figures, influencing Christian art and iconography.
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White Jesus and white supremacy
The depiction of Jesus as a white man has been a subject of controversy, with some arguing that it is a form of white supremacy. Warner Sallman's 1940 painting "Head of Christ", depicting Jesus with light eyes and hair, is considered the most reproduced image of Jesus and has influenced how generations of Christians worldwide perceive the central figure of Christianity. However, critics argue that this image of a "White Jesus" perpetuates racist ideologies and upholds white supremacy.
The Bible, written by and for oppressed people, has been weaponized by white supremacists to justify control, genocide, slavery, segregation, and patriarchy. They have twisted its message of liberation and resistance to suit their agenda, using it as a "birth certificate for their supremacy." This is evident in the historical use of Scripture to justify slavery and oppression, as well as the establishment of religious denominations based on biblical interpretations that supported the subjugation of Black people.
The portrayal of Jesus as white is inaccurate and contradicts historical evidence. Jesus, as a Palestinian Jew, likely had a darker complexion similar to modern-day Israelis. Early images of Jewish people from the third century depict them with darker skin tones, and descriptions from saints and mystics also suggest that Jesus had a reddish or brown complexion. Despite this, Europeans disseminated images of a white Jesus during colonization, reinforcing racial hierarchies and presenting themselves as superior to those with darker skin.
The persistence of the "White Jesus" narrative in theology and popular culture has theological implications. It reflects a narrow understanding of Jesus and ignores his identification with the oppressed. By depicting Jesus as white, the message conveyed is that authority and divinity are inherently white. This excludes people of color from fully relating to the image of God and perpetuates a Eurocentric perspective that erases the Middle Eastern origins of Jesus and the Bible.
The call to decolonize Christianity and reclaim the true image of Jesus as a person of color is gaining momentum. Artists like Sofia Minson, Vincent Barzoni, and Robert Lentz have reimagined Jesus as indigenous, Black, and Brown, respectively. These depictions not only challenge the whitewashing of Jesus's image but also emphasize his connection to marginalized communities and his solidarity with their struggles.
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Jesus as a black man
The debate over the colour of Jesus's skin is a longstanding one, with many Christians hesitant to give up the image of a white Jesus. However, by the 19th and 20th centuries, theories emerged suggesting that Jesus was non-Semitic, with writers proposing that he was white, black, or another race native to the Levant.
Some proponents of the theory that Jesus was black argue that he was ethnically black, based on the claim that the ancient Israelites of Western Asia were originally black people. Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of the "Black Christ" movement, identifying Jesus's struggle against the authorities with the struggle of African Americans. However, others argue that Jesus's blackness was due to his identification with black people, rather than his skin colour.
The physical appearance of the average Judean at the time has been described as having brown or black hair, honey/olive-brown skin, and brown eyes. They were also shorter than the average man today, with an average height of 1.65 metres or 5 feet 5 inches. Jesus, as a Palestinian Jew, likely had a similar appearance to modern-day Israelis. Quranic and hadith traditions provide oral depictions of Jesus, with some describing him as having a reddish complexion, curly hair, and a wheatish complexion.
While the true appearance of Jesus remains a mystery, the debate over his skin colour highlights the importance of inclusivity and representation in religious imagery. Different peoples are free to create images of Jesus that show him as one of their own, demonstrating the universality of the Incarnation. Artists such as Vincent Barzoni, Robert Lentz, and Janet McKenzie have depicted Jesus as a black man, challenging the traditional image of a white Jesus and promoting a more diverse representation of Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesus was a Palestinian Jew, so he probably had a darker complexion, similar to that of modern-day Israelis. However, because Jesus’s mission was to the whole world, people are free to create images of him that show him as one of their own.
A 2001 BBC series called Son of God attempted to determine Jesus's race and appearance, concluding that he likely had darker skin. In 1999, an image of Jesus modelled on a Black woman won the National Catholic Reporter competition. In 2019, New Zealand artist Sofia Minson reimagined Sallman's Jesus as an indigenous Māori man.
In the 20th century, an iconic painting of Jesus as a white man was distributed worldwide. Endorsed by then-President Dwight Eisenhower, millions of copies were printed on prayer cards and circulated by various Christian organisations.
Some argue that depicting Jesus as white has contributed to a normalisation of white chauvinism and superiority. Jemar Tisby, author of 'The Color of Compromise', said that believing in a white Jesus "denigrates the image of God in black people and other people of colour".
The Gospels do not describe Jesus's physical appearance, so artists throughout the centuries have had to use their imagination. As a result, depictions of Jesus have often reflected the characteristics of the people at whom these works of art were aimed.
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