So we search for Black Jesus - TRUTH Minista Paul Scott

Black Jesus:
Did the Game Ghetto-rize the Gospel
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott

“Religious images destroy the psychology of the Black Man/Who is crucified then vilified”

Crucified-Professor Griff

Last month, rapper ,”The Game” raised eyebrows when he released the cover art for his upcoming CD “Jesus Piece” which featured a thugged out “Black Jesus” wearin’ a bandanna. The controversy was further fueled with the weekly “Sunday Service” pre-release teases that featured songs like “Holy Water” and “Black Jesus”, in which the Game portrays himself as The Ghetto Messiah.

In interviews the Game has talked about his strong Christian beliefs and how “Jesus Piece” is about the conflict that arises when you are trying to do good in a world that rewards those who do evil.

I get that.

But the question becomes, is it necessary to Ghetto-rize the Gospel in order to reach the young Black males in the ‘hood? Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to give the youth the true image of “Jesus” instead of tryin’ to make the Prince of Peace an OG?

The Game is not the first to try to make the Bible more appealing to young folks by replacing the King James version with a more King of Rock style.

In 1993, P.K. McCary published the “Black Bible Chronicles” in which she tried to mak " the Word " more hip. Not to mention the attempts by gospel artists like Kirk Franklin to mix Hip Hop with their music in order to reach the people in the clubs on Saturday Night who might not make it to service on Sunday morning. Also, a more socially conscious, “Black Jesus” by Tupac and The Outlawz was released in 1999 that begged a more laid back Black Messiah to come save the ‘hood. But as the scriptures teach us, it is the Truth that is going to make us free. And the truth is that the image of the blue eyed, blond haired Jesus is just as historically inaccurate as The Games CD cover and this image has been more destructive to Black children than gangsta rap ever was.

This is the story that must be told.

The idea that the historical Jesus (Yeshua ben Yosef) was Black is not new and its origins can be traced back as far as Bishop Henry McNeal Turner (pictured below) who, in the 19th century , preached about the importance of Black people embracing a Black deity. Henry McNeal Turner (February 1, 1834 – May 8, 1915) was a minister, politician, and the first southern bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

During the early 20th century, this was also echoed by Marcus Garvey of the Universal Negro Improvement League and Archbishop George McGuire of the African Orthodox Church. According to William Mosley in his book, “What Color Was Jesus,” during the 1924 UNIA Convention, McGuire ordered that “all white pictures of Jesus and Mary , in homes and churches be “torn down and burned.”

The 60’s saw the creation of Black Liberation Theology which was advocated by ministers and theologians such as Rev. Albert Cleage (Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman) author of “The Black Messiah” and Dr. James Cone, (Black Theology /Black Power.) It must be noted that most of the early practitioners of the theology spoke of a “Black Christ” merely in symbolic terms.
However during the late 80’s and early 90’s , with the coming of the Afrocentric movement , historians such as Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango (Afrikan People and European Holidays) and Dr. John Henrik Clarke ,(The Boy Who Painted Christ Black) began to give historical proof to challenge traditional Euro-centric image of Yeshua.

According to historian, Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, in his work “Our Black Seminarians and Black Clergy Without a Black Theology,” it was Michelangelo who painted the first pictures of a white Jesus, using his cousin as a model in 1512 at the request of Pope Julius II.(Photo of Barashango)

Furthermore, Dr. Barashango pointed out that, contrary to popular belief ,Yeshua was actually a revolutionary who was crucified for the crime of stirring up the people against the Roman Empire. This is contrary to the fragile looking white person who only preached about “turning the other cheek” and “loving your enemies.” Neither philosophy is very popular in a community plagued by racism and police brutality.

A few Hip Hop artists have been bold enough to challenge the image of a Caucasian Christ . One of the first was Professor Griff back in the early 90’s with his song “Crucified.” Also on “B.I.B.L.E. “(Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) , Killah Priest claimed that one of the most popular images of “Jesus” was actually Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI. More recently, in 2004, on the remix of Jadakiss's “Why,” Nas asks the question, “Why is Jesus Christ never played by Black actors?”
However, most rap artists have, skillfully, avoided the issue, parroting the same line that Pastor Johnson gives,;“What difference does color make?” While ignoring the obvious, “if it didn’t matter why was he painted white in the first place?”

Even on “Jesus Walks,” although Kanye West rapped about Jesus walking with “drug dealers and even the strippers, “when it came to challenging the false European image, he said ,”I’m not here to argue ‘bout his facial features...”
Rappers know which lines not to cross.

What The Game must realize is that the Black on Black violence that he talks about on “Black Jesus” can be directly attributed to the lack of kinship that our youth feel with the Creator. And it is easy to kill someone who you believe was not made in the image of God. Also, its hard to tell people to stand up against racism when they believe that the deity whom they worship condones it.

We must not be afraid to speak the truth to our children who are looking for answers as to why African Americans are suffering, disproportionately, from long prison sentences, police brutality, unemployment and other social ills.

Like Pac and the Outlaws said “We need help out here, so we search for Black Jesus.”

Don’t we all, brothers? Don’t we all...

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com Website NoWarningShotsFired.com Follow on Twitter @truthminista

Download the track here !


The Game continues his Sunday Service series and today's fourth installment is a song called "Black Jesus." Although it won't be appearing on the "Hate It Or Love It" rapper's forthcoming Jesus Piece album, it's definitely not for a lack of quality.


SAP hooks up a plush groove, outfitted with wailing vocals and a marauding bassline, while of Dre of Cool & Dre fame appears on the chorus professing that he's "the young Black Jesus." Jayceon Taylor's Jesus Piece will be in stores December 11th and he recently revealed some alternative artwork that features his deceased brother Jevon Danell Taylor. It's certainly less controversial than gangstafied Jesus Christ depicted on what is now touted as the deluxe edition's artwork. The album will features appearances from everybody in Hip-Hop, including Common, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Kendrick Lamar.

Download the entire album here: http://soundcloud.com/jesuspiece

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B.I.B.L.E.
(Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - Killah Preist (1995)

Basic instructions before leavin' Earth
Basic instructions before leavin' Earth
Basic instructions before leavin' Earth

Chorus:(X2)
Life is a test, many quest the universe
N' through my research, I felt the joy N' the hurt
The first shall be last N' the last shall be first
The basic instructions before leavin' Earth

(Killah Priest)
Knowledge this wisdom, this goes back when I was twelve
I love doin' right but I was trapped in Hell
Had mad ideas, sad eyes N' tears
Years of fear, but yo my foes couldn't bear
I searched for the truth since my youth
N' went to church since birth, but it wasn't worth the loot
That I was payin', plus the prayin'
I didn't like stayin' cuz of bizzie-bodies
N' dizzy-hotties
That the preach-ass souped up with lies
Had couped up, lookin' at loot, butt N' thighs
During the service, he swallowed up the poor
N' after they heard this, they wallowed on the floor
But I ignored, N' explored my history that was untold
N' watched mysteries unfold
N' dropped the jewel like Solomon, but never followed men
Cuz if you do your brain is more hollow then
Space oblivia, or the abyss
With no trace of trivia, left with the hiss
Does it pay to be deaf, dumb, or blind
From a slave he was kept from the mind
N' from a caves he crept from behind
N' what he gave was the sect of the swine
When the bible, that condemned the pig
I don't mean to pull your hems or flip your wigs
But we used to wear a turban, but now were in the urban
No more wearin' beanies or dress like the genie
No hocus pocus cuz I focus on the facts
N' put it on the track or brought it through the wax
I speak on Jacob, it might take up some time
N' too much knowledge, it might break up the ryhme
I did it anyway, just to wake up the mind
Of those who kiss stones or prays on the carpet
Those who sit at home, or sell books by the market
Need to chill N' get their mind revived
For years, religion did nothing but divide

chorus(X2)

I strolled through the books of Job to unfold
N' opened bibles, instead of hopin' on revivals
Callin' on his name N' screaming Halleluja
When he hardly knew ya, that's how the devils fooled ya
See, look into my eyes brethren, that's the lies of a Reverend
Why should you die to go to heaven
The Earth is already in space
The bible I embrace
A difficult task I had to take
I studied till my eyes was swollen
N' only arose when I found out that we were the chosen
I deal with the truth N' build with the youth
N' teach my son as he kneels on the stoop
Son, life is a pool of sin, corrupted with foolish men
N' women with wicked minds who build picket signs
To legalize abortion, the evil eye extortion
I quiz some with my wisdom
Before I converted I was perverted
N' knowledge was asserted
The study of wisdom, I perferred it
The understandin', it gave me mental freedom
I even learnt Caucasians were really the Tribe of Edam
The white image of Christ is really Cesare Borgia
N' uh, the second son of Pope Alexander
The sixth of Rome N' once the picture was shown
That's how the devils tricked my dome
I prophesized to save a man but no one gave a damn
For my nation, the seed of Abraham
Blessed with the tongue of Hebrew
Now we're strung on needles, N' some are plungin' evils
So study N' be wise in these days of darkness
Peace to my nephew Marcus

chorus

From GZA aka The Genius - Liquid Swords Geffen Records 1995 (c)