He May Not Have Been White...

[pastafreak]

But Jesus surely wasn't black Jamaican. As a Jew of the time, he would most likely have been olive skinned with dark hair.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8473935/St-Albans-Cathedral-places-painting-Supper-black-Jesus-altar.html

[woofgang]

yup but have you actually read what the artist says?
"Wadsworth said: 'Painting the Last Supper altarpiece made me really think about how we are accustomed to seeing Jesus portrayed.

'Experts agree he would most likely have had Middle Eastern features, yet for centuries European artists have traditionally painted Christ in their own image.

'I cast Jamaican-born model, Tafari Hinds, as my Jesus to make people question the Western myth that he had fair hair and blue eyes.

'My portrayal of him is just as 'accurate' as the received idea that he looked like a Florentine. "

[Theland]

Jewish, darkish skin, Jewish features, not very happy looking.
'' A man of sorrows acquainted with grief.''

[ToraToraTora]

perlease!

[Jackdaw33]

So Jesus Christ himself is the next target of these raving nutters!

First words of the cross:

'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'.

[jim360]

Black Jesus depictions have been around for centuries. It is, as the artist says, just as valid (ie, not) as the traditional "White Jesus" of the last 1000-odd years.

[pastafreak]

I understand that, woof. But in my eyes, there's quite a difference in the features of those of Jewish descent, and those of afro-caribbean background. I've never been comfortable with the traditional depiction, though I know it was born out of very early European ideas of what he might look like.

[Togo]

Some 2,000 odd years ago in the region portrayed as the place of the birth of Jesus, and the area where he grew up and lived, had many fair haired, blue eyed, people among the indigenous people. This was before the subsequent persecution and discrimination against them that has resulted in their presence being almost non existence in modern times. Is the colour of the devil up for discussion?

[Mamyalynne]

There is and always has been a wealth of various portrayals of Jesus, they don't need to be what we assume to be true representations of him.

[Theland]

Most countries around the world have adapted an image of Jesus to reflect their own culture.
Happy days until now.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8460059/Cambridge-University-backs-academic-tweeted-White-Lives-Dont-Matter.html

[Ellipsis]

> the Western myth that he had fair hair and blue eyes

I have to say, I have never, ever, thought of Jesus as having fair hair and blue eyes. Although Robert Powell's version had blue eyes and was notable for it ...

[Gromit]

Well Jamaicans are ancestrally Africans and the middle east includes North Africa, so it will be closer than the current depiction of a European.

[Mozz71]

Meanwhile, 31 years ago...

[Mamyalynne]

This is one of my many favourite images, I find it beautiful.

It's very personal to each really isn't it.

I have some lovely art deco images too, my Mum was not too keen on those.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depiction_of_Jesus#/media/File:Enrique_Simonet_-_Cabeza_de_Jes%C3%BAs.jpg

[pastafreak]

That's beautiful Mamya.

[woofgang]

Mamya that is beautiful