Reimaging Jesus: A Reflection on Black Jesus

The image of Jesus has been portrayed in countless ways throughout history, with art often reflecting the cultural context of the artist and society. Yet, for many Black Christians, reimagining Jesus as a figure who resembles them—dark-skinned, with Afrocentric features—provides a powerful affirmation of identity, heritage, and belonging. A Black Jesus challenges longstanding perceptions and offers a deeper theological significance that has the potential to empower, uplift, and connect us to the broader biblical story.

In exploring Jesus through the lens of the Original African Heritage Study Bible by Cane Hope Felder, we encounter Scripture in a way that highlights the African presence throughout biblical history. This translation and commentary work challenges Eurocentric interpretations of the Bible, offering African-descended readers a way to see their own culture and experiences represented in the sacred text. Felder's work emphasizes that people of African descent were not peripheral characters in the Bible but were woven into the heart of the biblical story, from the Exodus to the New Testament era. For Black Christians, seeing a reflection of themselves in Jesus is more than representation; it’s a call to reclaim their rightful place within the biblical narrative and to recognize the depth of their spiritual heritage.

When examining Jesus’ earthly life, we see a man rooted in the rugged landscape of the Middle East, a region intersecting African, Asian, and Mediterranean influences. This historical and geographical context makes it likely that Jesus’ appearance was much closer to that of modern people of color than to the Western images that have dominated Christian iconography for centuries. The Original African Heritage Study Bible draws attention to the cultural connections between ancient African civilizations and the biblical world, underscoring the African heritage that shaped so much of the biblical narrative. Recognizing this pushes back against Eurocentric portrayals and invites believers to engage with a fuller understanding of Jesus’ identity and ministry.

Seeing Jesus as a Black man offers profound theological insights, particularly for communities that have been marginalized and oppressed. Felder’s work shows how the Bible, when viewed from an Afrocentric perspective, is filled with figures whose lives were marked by resilience and courage—qualities also mirrored in Jesus’ life and mission. Born into poverty, Jesus lived under foreign rule, endured rejection, and ultimately sacrificed His life for justice. He was a figure who stood alongside the disinherited, embodying their struggles and offering a path toward dignity and freedom. In Howard Thurman’s "Jesus and the Disinherited," he speaks to this connection, showing how Jesus’ life resonates with the oppressed, poor, and marginalized—those with "their backs against the wall." Understanding Jesus through this lens reveals that His ministry was not about passive spirituality but active, loving resistance. Jesus’ love offered the disinherited a way to rise above fear, hate, and despair, to reclaim their dignity as beloved of God. A Black Jesus, in this sense, embodies the struggles and triumphs of those historically marginalized, serving as a powerful reminder that God stands with them in every trial.

In "The Black Christ," Kelly Brown Douglas interprets Jesus as a symbol of liberation uniquely relevant to the Black experience. According to Douglas, Jesus’ life and mission were marked by radical solidarity with the oppressed, standing against systemic injustice and offering a pathway to freedom. For Douglas, a Black Christ embodies the struggles of African Americans against racism and social oppression, affirming their dignity and humanity within a society that has historically marginalized them. A Black Jesus is not just an image but a theological vision—one that aligns with Black Liberation Theology, a framework that interprets Christian faith through the lived experiences of Black communities. Pioneered by James Cone, Black Liberation Theology asserts that God stands on the side of the oppressed, calling Christians to confront injustice.

Embracing a Black Jesus challenges Christians of all backgrounds to expand their understanding of Christ’s mission. Jesus’ life and ministry were about lifting up the marginalized, challenging systemic injustice, and transforming lives through radical love. As we contemplate the image of Black Jesus, we are invited to deepen our understanding of God’s love as one that knows no cultural or racial boundaries. This is not about limiting Jesus to a single cultural identity but about reclaiming a fuller picture of who He is—a Savior whose life resonates with the oppressed and calls us to dismantle systems of injustice. A Black Jesus brings us closer to a God who is present with all people, especially those who have been marginalized. As Douglas, Felder, Cone, and Thurman remind us, Jesus’ message is one of inclusion, love, and justice. A Black Jesus reminds us that divine love transcends all boundaries and that each of us is seen, known, and loved in our true identity.