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African-Americans depict Jesus, make for hot topics, sellers
Did you know that two of the often talked about items focused on the life and times of Christ include portrayals of Jesus by African-American actors?
Maybe you do, and I'm the last to know. In the past two weeks, the new "black audio Bible" and "black Jesus movie" seemed to be a hot topic of conversation and media stories.
I came across the massive audio version of the New Testament while reading a magazine. Soon after reading the article, it seemed to be the thing everyone wanted to talk about. After investigating, I discovered "Inspired By the Bible Experience: New Testament" is a walmart.com top seller and the most popular audio Bible ever stocked by Family Christian Stores.
On one hand, its popularity baffles me. After all, the full package includes an 18-CD set and a DVD about how the piece was created. Called the most ambitious recording project undertaken in recent history, the prospect of listening to it may seem equally daunting.
However, this "Experience" enterprise is closely akin to those old time radio programs that included passionate performances from seasoned actors. The set features a cast of more than 80 well-known actors, like Samuel L. Jackson (God), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Angela Bassett (Esther) and Cuba Gooding Jr. (Judas).
More than 100 musicians round out the recording cast. These performances are further augmented by music and movie quality sound effects. (Listen to an audio sample by going to www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-28-bible_x.htm.)
While working on the CD set, producers told the Associated Press and other media the all-black cast wouldn't prove a marketing obstacle, and it hasn't, if sales are an indicator.
The second product is the film, "Color of the Cross," a moving depiction of Jesus as a black man. Out this month on DVD, the film proves inspiring for some and controversial for others.
That's because "Color" marks the first film depiction of Jesus as a black man, played by Jean-Claude LaMarre, who also wrote and directed the film. It's also the first to suggest the Crucifixion could have been racially motivated.
Drawing from the Bible and historical documents, LaMarre believes portraying Jesus as a black Jew --- an accurate depiction, according to some biblical historians --- is the most positive image of a black film protagonist to date. Focusing on the last 48 hours of Jesus’ life, the film tackles key themes, including Jesus’ relationships with his disciples; what motivated the Romans occupying Judea and rabbis of the Sanhedrin; how Jesus’ work and subsequent persecution affected his family.
Golden writes the Courier's weekly faith column. E-mail her at onfaith@karrisgolden.com.
Maybe you do, and I'm the last to know. In the past two weeks, the new "black audio Bible" and "black Jesus movie" seemed to be a hot topic of conversation and media stories.
I came across the massive audio version of the New Testament while reading a magazine. Soon after reading the article, it seemed to be the thing everyone wanted to talk about. After investigating, I discovered "Inspired By the Bible Experience: New Testament" is a walmart.com top seller and the most popular audio Bible ever stocked by Family Christian Stores.
On one hand, its popularity baffles me. After all, the full package includes an 18-CD set and a DVD about how the piece was created. Called the most ambitious recording project undertaken in recent history, the prospect of listening to it may seem equally daunting.
However, this "Experience" enterprise is closely akin to those old time radio programs that included passionate performances from seasoned actors. The set features a cast of more than 80 well-known actors, like Samuel L. Jackson (God), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Angela Bassett (Esther) and Cuba Gooding Jr. (Judas).
More than 100 musicians round out the recording cast. These performances are further augmented by music and movie quality sound effects. (Listen to an audio sample by going to www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-28-bible_x.htm.)
While working on the CD set, producers told the Associated Press and other media the all-black cast wouldn't prove a marketing obstacle, and it hasn't, if sales are an indicator.
The second product is the film, "Color of the Cross," a moving depiction of Jesus as a black man. Out this month on DVD, the film proves inspiring for some and controversial for others.
That's because "Color" marks the first film depiction of Jesus as a black man, played by Jean-Claude LaMarre, who also wrote and directed the film. It's also the first to suggest the Crucifixion could have been racially motivated.
Drawing from the Bible and historical documents, LaMarre believes portraying Jesus as a black Jew --- an accurate depiction, according to some biblical historians --- is the most positive image of a black film protagonist to date. Focusing on the last 48 hours of Jesus’ life, the film tackles key themes, including Jesus’ relationships with his disciples; what motivated the Romans occupying Judea and rabbis of the Sanhedrin; how Jesus’ work and subsequent persecution affected his family.
Golden writes the Courier's weekly faith column. E-mail her at onfaith@karrisgolden.com.
More Stories from Opinions » On Faith
???? wrote on Jan 25, 2007 11:04 AM:
" It doesn't matter what color skin Jesus had, what counts is accepting him as your Lord and Savior. To even bring up the thought that His death was the start of white supremacy is utter nonsense. Jesus was born of a virgin, led a sinnless life and died on the cross for our sins. "
GODBODY wrote on Jan 25, 2007 9:42 PM:
" To??? wrote: You're right,it doesn't matter what color jesus was. And I didn't say jesus death was the start of white supremacy, i just asked a simple question. Don't get caught up in the harsh truth, just entertain the thought, though extreme as it maybe. Think about it, jesus was spreading love, telling all races to join as one. He's killed(think about who killed him??) and unrealistic drawings of him are spread across the world. If it really didn't matter, why are the pictures of him white? Someone could have tainted the image of jesus for a purpose. This is not unlikely, God is truth, can you accept it?? "
???? wrote on Jan 26, 2007 9:22 AM:
" To GodBody: If that's true would it also be true that their would be something along that lines within the bible? The truth is, and always should be that Jesus was preordained (Not to mention God in human form) to live His sinless life and die the way He did for our sins. To question why joseph was told to flee to egypt and make it a racial "thing" would be questioning the bible and the truth it gives us. If more people in our world would look people for who they are not the color of their skin and try to live as Jesus did by loving all no matter what we would all be better off. God Bless "
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GODBODY wrote on Jan 24, 2007 10:14 PM: