VS. 
I just got off of the phone with my cousin who is in the Nation of Islam. Now most times our conversations are very cordial and I usually just listen to him talk without saying too much in response--He knows where I stand in regard to his beliefs. But every once in a while the conversation gets heated and tonight was a prime example of that. I don't wish to recount everything we discussed but there is one thing that comes up EVERY time he get to arguing and that is what Jesus LOOKED like. The reason? Because if we say we don't know then we are accused of not recognizing him as he came in Elijah Muhammad or Louis Farakhan.
You see, for the member of the Nation of Islam (which is a Black supremacist group contrary to their denial of such a description), Jesus could not have been white. In fact Jesus must have been the original Asiatic Black man. All artwork that depicts Jesus as a Caucasian is meant to deceive and is rooted in White supremacy. Let us suppose that this is the case and all Caucasian depictions of Jesus are founded upon a notion of White supremacy (although I don't see anyone taking issue with Hispanic, Indian, or Asian representations of Jesus) does this somehow necessitate that Jesus was a Black man? And if Jesus being Black is the only viable option, does it really matter? These are important questions to say the least.
Let's start by pointing out that Jesus was a first century Palestinian Jew which means that he was neither White nor Black. He more than likely had an olive complexion, but again, does this matter? It is easy to ascertain why certain depictions of Jesus appear as they do--artwork tends to reflect the artist more than the subject. Michelangelo painted a White Jesus because he put himself into his work. Danny Simmons painted a Black Jesus because he put himself in his work. So on and so forth for all inconic images of the Son of God. But does any of this matter?
Does Jesus' skin color affect the Gospel? Would Jesus' blood have still been red if he were White, Black, Purple, or Green? Was it race that caused Jesus to live a sinless life, perform miracles by the very finger of God, and rise from the dead three days after being crucified? The answer to all of these questions is an emphatic NO!!!
Concern for Jesus' skin color reflects a deep carnality in the person concerned as the more spirutually minded person is concerned with Jesus' redemptive work. Skin color didn't save anyone, a divine person did! In the case of the Nation of Islam member, they need a black Jesus because they need to claim that Elijah Muhammad was Jesus and that Louis Farakhan is also some aspect of Jesus. The not-so-holy Trinity of the Nation of Islam is W. Fard Muhammad, Elijah Muhammad, Louis Farakhan--and although you will find different views from different members (as the Nation of Islam has no unified interpretation concerning much of anything), you will find that they believe all three of these men to be God/Jesus in some way, shape, or form.
If we are to believe that Elijah Muhammad or Louis Farakhan is Jesus then Jesus must be Black. To deny that Jesus is Black means that we have some deep-seeded White supremacy in us. To affirm it is to admit that these men are Jesus. This is the reasoning of the NOI member (at least the one I speak to regularly). But again I have to point out that the skin color of Jesus of Nazereth is completely irrelevant to anything that matters!!! I thought of taking the pet scripture (Rev. 1:14-15) of those who claim a Black Jesus and showing the flaws in their interpretation but what's the point? It still wouldn't do anything to affect what Jesus did. So here is the Gospel.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1Cor. 15:3-4)
No mention of skin tone, race, or any other frivolous nonsense. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose! If his color were a necessary bit of information it would have been stated in Scripture. So whether you believe in a Black Jesus or a White Jesus or the historically accurate Palestinian Jewish Jesus--my question is do you believe the Gospel? If not than the color of Jesus' skin is the least of your concerns.
