It's a familiar image for millions of Christians: Jesus, with a crown of thorns, hanging from the cross. What color is he? In a controversial new film opening Friday, he is black. "Color of the Cross" tells a traditional story, focusing on the last 48 hours of Christ's life as told in the Gospels. In this version, though, race contributes to his persecution. It is the first representation in the history of American cinema of Jesus as a black man.
Filmmaker Jean Claude LaMarre set out to change that with "Color of the Cross." LaMarre, who plays Jesus, wrote, directed and financed the film. It will open in 30 theaters in predominantly black neighborhoods.
I personally think this is good for the Country and its diversity.
Same here.
I don't see why we most often portray him as white though...think about it: Jesus (the man) was a Middle-Eastern Jew. He'd probably look more like some of the terrorists we're fighting than the kinds of images we usually use.
The depictions of Christ that we know originally started appearing in 13th and 14th century Europe and were drawn by people who had never seen a person of any color other that their own.
In reality though, Jesus was a Hebrew. He would have darker skin and look arabic or north African but not black.
I think the fact that this movie is titled "color of the cross" implies that they are just trying to get attention by making Jesus black and don't really care about telling the story of Jesus as arcuately as possible.
I think that it is a step for diversity.. I guess.. although you could diversify him while still sticking with the truth by just making him hebrew/middle eastern instead of european looking.. where's the Jew nose???