>From Genesis to Revelation there is a great deal of proof that blacks are
present throughout the Bible:
- In the Hebrew, Adam (or Ahdahm) is defined as swarthy, dusky,
reddish-brown soil, dark-skinned like a shadow. Aphar: The soil from which
Adham was made, meaning: dust, clay, always very black or very dark brown
in color.
- The Garden of Eden was described in Genesis as having been near a
four-river system in the region of the lands of Cush, Havilah, and Asshur,
which today would be near the borders of Eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, and
Eritrea. The birthplace of humanity was confirmed when the oldest human
remains were found in Ethiopia in 1974. Science and the Bible are often at
odds, but one thing both confirm is that the birthplace of humanity was in
East Africa.
- Many of the Hebrew patriarchs married or had children with women from
African tribes. Abraham had children with Hagar and Keturah both from
African (Hamitic) tribes. Moses married Zippora, who was Ethiopian. Jacob
had children with two handmaidens from African tribes, and these children
became the patriarchs of two tribes of Israel.
http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/02/19/black-presence-bible-uncovering-hidden-ones
The Black Presence in the Bible: Uncovering the Hidden Ones
by Onleilove Alston 02-19-2014 | 3:49pm
*"Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her
hands unto God." -Psalm 68:31*
The Bible is a multicultural book. This statement may sound controversial
but archeology, history, and the text prove it to be true. In 2013 this
controversy played out in the media when viewers of The Bible miniseries
were upset that Samson was played by a black man. A second controversy
occurred when a Fox News broadcaster confidently declared that Santa Claus
and Jesus were white, yet when people researched original depictions of
Saint Nicolas, they found pictures of a dark brown man. It appears that our
faith has been distorted. As we celebrate Black History Month and prepare
for Lent, how can uncovering the black presence in the Bible aid us in
mourning against the sin of racism? One of the effects of racism is the
whitewashing of history and sadly this has taken place even in our biblical
studies.
The Roman Catacombs show biblical scenes painted by first- and
second-century persecuted Christians, and their paintings clearly show
people of color. What would Roman Christians gain from painting these
characters black? What did these early Christians know and accept that
seems unbelievable today?
I began to research the black presence in the Bible because, as a
faith-based community organizer and person of color, I see that the younger
generation is hungry for a faith that is grounded in truth, not tradition.
While studying at Union Theological Seminary my Oxford-educated, Church
History professor spoke of the early Black Church fathers and the Coptic
Church (one of the oldest churches in the world). This information
encouraged me to look deeper into the Bible and church history. Some may
say we don't need to study the black presence in the Bible and that color
doesn't matter, but if this is so, why is Jesus painted with blond hair and
blue eyes? Why were early pictures of black saints, biblical characters and
black Madonnas destroyed? Some will say these items were destroyed to
protect people from idolatry, but I would argue that this could not have
been the case since they were replaced with icons and photos of white
saints and Bible characters.
The main reason for studying the black presence in the Bible is because if
we can't accept that our Bible is a multicultural book, how can we accept
multicultural churches? It is difficult to see the black presence in the
Bible because you won't read the terms black or African but you will read
the terms Ethiopians, Cushites, Egyptians, Hebrews, or other tribal terms.
Ethiopia is mentioned 45 times in the Bible; add this to the number of
times Egypt is mentioned, and Africa is mentioned more than any other
landmass in the Bible. It should also be noted that the "Middle East,"
including the Holy Land was connected to Africa until 1859 when the Suez
Canal was completed and had been referred to North East Africa for the
majority of modern history.
>From Genesis to Revelation there is a great deal of proof that blacks are
present throughout the Bible:
In the Hebrew, Adam (or Ahdahm) is defined as swarthy, dusky, reddish-brown
soil, dark-skinned like a shadow. Aphar: The soil from which Adham was
made, meaning: dust, clay, always very black or very dark brown in color.
The Garden of Eden was described in Genesis as having been near a
four-river system in the region of the lands of Cush, Havilah, and Asshur,
which today would be near the borders of Eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, and
Eritrea. The birthplace of humanity was confirmed when the oldest human
remains were found in Ethiopia in 1974. Science and the Bible are often at
odds, but one thing both confirm is that the birthplace of humanity was in
East Africa.
Many of the Hebrew patriarchs married or had children with women from
African tribes. Abraham had children with Hagar and Keturah both from
African (Hamitic) tribes. Moses married Zippora, who was Ethiopian. Jacob
had children with two handmaidens from African tribes, and these children
became the patriarchs of two tribes of Israel.
Studying the black presence in the Bible can open the door to discussions
about racial justice and dispel the myth that the Bible is the "white man's
book." It is this myth that has kept many people of color from the gospel.
By whitewashing the Bible, we prevent future generations from experiencing
the beauty of the biblical text. Black people should know that they have
always played a central role in God's plan for humanity and were not an
afterthought of the creator.
What Churches Can Do to Uncover the Black Presence in the Bible During
Black History Month and Lent:
· If you use Biblical images, make sure they are historically accurate.
Utilize the African Heritage Study Bible, edited by Dr. Cain Hope Felder of
Howard Divinity School, which includes essays and maps to aid your Bible
study. Each passage of Scripture related to Africa is highlighted.
Read How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African
Seedbed of Western Christianity (InterVarsity Press) by Thomas C. Oden, who
dedicated his life to uncovering of the buried treasure of African
Christianity.
Read Africa's Roots in God by Rev. Dr. Sed Yankson, Pastor of East New York
SDA Church & Akan Royalty.
Read The Black Presence in the Bible: Discovering the Black and African
Identity of Biblical Persons and Nations by Dr. Walter A. McCray, President
of The National Black Evangelical Association.
Visit Prophetic Whirlwind: an organization dedicated to uncovering the
Black presence in the Bible via workshops, lectures, Bible study and
devotional materials.
I would challenge you this Lent, as we reflect on the sacrifice Yahshua
made for us to ask yourself if it was proven that he was black, would this
change your devotion to him?
Onleilove Alston , M.Div., MSW is a community organizer, speaker and writer
living in Harlem. She is a member of the Sojourners Emerging Voices Project
and Board of Directors as well as the founder of Prophetic Whirlwind:
Uncovering the Black Biblical Destiny.
Received on Sat Feb 22 2014 - 10:21:25 EST