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Have You Seen the White Jesus Doll? (1538 hits)

Earlier today, I was shopping at Wal-Mart with my son when I ran across a white Jesus doll. After taking a few moments to look it over, I just shook my head. I then asked myself, "How are they (the manufacturers) going to explain this to black, brown, yellow and red children and their parents?" Do they plan on making black, brown, yellow and red Jesus dolls?

Don't count on it.

I have been a born-again Christian since 1977, when I was nine years of age, and I am accustomed to seeing white images of Jesus Christ. I remember being in my black, Baptist church and looking up at the stained glass window with a white Jesus hanging on Calvary's cross. I remember opening up old pew bibles and seeing a white Jesus breaking bread with his 12 white disciples. Most of all, I remember closing my eyes to pray at night, only to see a white Jesus staring back at me.

I do not support the perpetuation of this image. To me, it seems to be nothing more than a ploy to get us persons of color to endear the white race over all others. Because the perpetuation of this image has been so strong through the years, many Christians of color have denounced the Christian faith to serve gods that are more in line with the physiology and values of their racial group. But who can blame them? Most people would rather do that than bow to a white Jesus, a white man.

I know I don't want my child to think Jesus is a white man. That's why I did everything I could to place my body in front of the white Jesus doll. He needs to grow up believing what I believe, that Jesus is the color of water. When the sun shines through this water, you behold the colors of the rainbow.

But why do we Blacks just stand on the margins and swallow this pill? Why aren't we speaking out against images that don't include us in the equation? Is it because we are afraid of the repurcussions that we will face if we forget our place? I hope not. Because if we do, our children - red, yellow, black, brown and white - will never know what it feels like to live in a true community, one where people are judged by the contents of their character rather than the colors of their skin.

What do you think? Have you seen the white Jesus doll? Do you have a problem with it?

I look forward to reading your responses.

Be blessed, and continue to be a blessing.

Jeffery A. Faulkerson, MSSW
www.jefferyafaulkerson.com
www.practicalwritingeditingconsulting.com

Posted By: J. A. Faulkerson
Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:02PM
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What is amazing to me is that the color of Jesus is still a bigger issue to many black Americans than the actual history of the man's life or more appropriately the 'manipulation' of the man's life. What difference would it make if the Jesus doll was purple with pink polka dots? The fact that it is a doll on sale is just further evidence of the marketing aspect of religion overall. Having a black Jesus doesn't make him from Africa or Jamaica, so why do we blacks feel slighted when white people cast him in their image? They have written an entire fictional life story about the man's life and we bought into that so why not buy the graven white image doll as well? If you're gonna go...go all out.
Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:07PM
Curly Morris

In the Bible doesn't it say Jesus had wool hair and bronze feet. Jeffery, wouldn't that be lying to your son, (or at least confusing him) if you say Jesus is the color of the rainbow? I'm not questioning your parenting, AT ALL! But the authors of the bible wrote that, shouldn't that be taught? I really want to know. I don't proclaim to be a student of the Bible, so I could be wrong about the depiction of Jesus.
Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:20PM
Kenneth X

Kenneth X:

Yes, that is the biblical description of Jesus. And I would present this description to my son so he can make his own interpretation. However, I inserted the rainbow verbiage in my blog to communicate a message of unity to the body of Christian believers. My aim is not to confuse, but to inspire us to move beyond this preoccupation with skin color. However, as a black American male, it's hard to do that when you cry out for more accurate depictions of yourself and your culture in mainstream society.

Thank you for your response. It added truth to the ongoing dialogue.

Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:40PM
J. A. Faulkerson

Jeffery, I see your point.
Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:43PM
Kenneth X

continuation of last quick comment, last sentence:

However, as a black American male, its hard to do that when you cry out for more accurate depictions of yourself and your culture in mainstream society, and you don't get them. It's as if mainstream, white America is stuck on stupid, not realizing that white supremist attitudes and beliefs are played out.
Friday, August 15th 2008 at 10:44PM
J. A. Faulkerson

I know the Biblical description of Jesus' appearance and that's good enough for me. It's funny though..I learned it when I was a teenager watching 'Good Times.' LOL. ROTF. I looked it up as a child to be sure...and there it was.

Personally, I don't care what color Jesus is. He wouldn't be any LESS my Lord and Savior if He was GREEN, though I understand how seeing a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus could rub someone the wrong way.

Blessings...
Sunday, August 17th 2008 at 12:28AM
Dee Gray

The Bible tells us in Scripture John 4:24 that God is a Spirit.....there is no color specified there. I understand how seeing a white Jesus is offensive. Know that it is a ploy to even further the white race in beliving that they are more superior than any other race. I look at it this way, white society is so unsure of who they are maybe this is something they need to pick themselves up a bit.

I know the scriptures do not lie, I teach my child what the scriptures say not man.
Saturday, September 27th 2008 at 6:49PM
Cheryl Hendrix