Borat's next movie to feature a (gasp!) black jesus

[Pellman]

According the news source, I’m supposed to be shocked.

telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4206901/Sacha-Baron-Cohens-black-Jesus-to-shock-America.html

It’s actually not Borat, but it’s a movie by the same comedian who portrays Borat. And no doubt it will be highly offensive.

But what gets me is that the author of the report thinks that Americans would find a black Jesus in-and-of-itself offensive. That is, simply a black man dressed as Jesus would be offensive, regardless of context. Huh!?!?

Reporters just don’t get it.

 

[Elizabeth502]

But what gets me is that the author of the report thinks that Americans would find a black Jesus in-and-of-itself offensive. That is, simply a black man dressed as Jesus would be offensive, regardless of context. Huh!?

If I took offense, it would be at the historical inaccuracy. Jesus was not of African descent. (Not in that sense “black.”) His skin tones would be similar to those of his earthly counterparts, so unless we believe that Mary was “black,” Jesus was not “black.” Various anthropologists have weighed in on this – suggesting skin tones ranging from light to dark olive. And naturally diverse cultures have depicted Jesus in art as being of their own identity (Ethiopian Jesus, East Asian Jesus, etc.), which makes perfect sense culturally. Interestingly (to me), visionary accounts include several reports of blue or blue-green eyes and light-brown hair. Being neither holy enough nor fortunate enough to have had such a vision, I can neither add to nor reduce the speculation.


I know that’s not the OP’s point! (Yes, it shouldn’t matter, and Christ is universal anyway – regardless of his looks.)

 

[grampben]

I actually find Cohen rather funny, even though much of it is cringeworthy.
The quite recent Borat movie was funny just to see him talk to Alan Keyes!

 

[estesbob]

According the news source, I’m supposed to be shocked.

telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4206901/Sacha-Baron-Cohens-black-Jesus-to-shock-America.html

It’s actually not Borat, but it’s a movie by the same comedian who portrays Borat. And no doubt it will be highly offensive.

But what gets me is that the author of the report thinks that Americans would find a black Jesus in-and-of-itself offensive. That is, simply a black man dressed as Jesus would be offensive, regardless of context. Huh!?!?

Reporters just don’t get it.

It plays into the mainstream medias perception that Christians are racist bigots. I cannot think of anybody who would be offended in the least by Jesus being portrayed as black

Recall that this is the same mainstream media that thought conservatives would vote against George Bush in 2004 when they found out that **** Cheney’s daughter was a lesbian.

 

[Lucania]

Bill Donohue from the Catholic League has something to say about this topic: catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1539.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

What difference does it make as to the colour or race, were all gods children. In each continent of the world I would assume they protray Jesus in there own way. So really we know he was king of the jews his skin was olive colouring and he died for our sins so i ask as in opinion why would it matter what colour he is.

Halos

 

[Jennifer123]

But what gets me is that the author of the report thinks that Americans would find a black Jesus in-and-of-itself offensive. That is, simply a black man dressed as Jesus would be offensive, regardless of context. Huh!?!?

Reporters just don’t get it.

I think this is just an example of the hypocrisy and latent racism of the left. As if the idea of a BLACK MAN playing Jesus is just so explosive as to send us all in a tizzy. I mean, really.

 

[Digitonomy]

But what gets me is that the author of the report thinks that Americans would find a black Jesus in-and-of-itself offensive. That is, simply a black man dressed as Jesus would be offensive, regardless of context. Huh!?!?

Reporters just don’t get it.

While I would agree that this particular reporter misjudges the offense a black Jesus would cause, that’s probably just a symptom of his British worldview. Many people in other countries (and not a few in the US) were also stunned that Americans elected a black president.

This movie won’t disabuse the reporter of his notion, as Cohen will find more than enough Americans who are offended by a black Jesus.

Jennifer123:

I think this is just an example of the hypocrisy and latent racism of the left.

That seems a bit of a stretch, since it appeared in what is sometimes referred to as the Daily Torygraph.

 

[Jennifer123]

This movie won’t disabuse the reporter of his notion, as Cohen will find more than enough Americans who are offended by a black Jesus.That seems a bit of a stretch, since it appeared in what is sometimes referred to as the Daily Torygraph.

People are offended by many things, but any angst over a “black” Jesus won’t be because of his color, but rather how this “Jesus” is portrayed. I assume that it will be irreverently treated, and any upset with a disrespectful portrayal and purposeful provocation will be blamed on Americans’ “inherent racism” rather than anything else. These Hollywood elitists are pretty predictable. I’d like to see Cohen tackle a “black” Mohammad and see where that leads.

And the “Torygraph” is hardly the only source for this story…it just happens to be the story linked in this thread.

 

[Jennifer123]

Many people in other countries (and not a few in the US) were also stunned that Americans elected a black president.

Why? There are many more successful blacks in the US than anywhere else in the world. Has any modern European country elected or elevated a black person to such status?

 

[LDNCatholic]

See…now I am offended, and it isn’t because of a black guy playing a part.

It is because of the part he is playing. He isn’t playing Jesus Christ, he is playing a model named Jesus who wears a loincloth and a crown of thorns, in blatant parody of Christ.

Thats the offensive part.

Also, Jennifer, come on, while you may not be racist yourself you must admit America has not completely put to rest its issues with race (then again you have a very good point about European nations).

 

[estesbob]

See…now I am offended, and it isn’t because of a black guy playing a part.

It is because of the part he is playing. He isn’t playing Jesus Christ, he is playing a model named Jesus who wears a loincloth and a crown of thorns, in blatant parody of Christ.

Thats the offensive part.

Also, Jennifer, come on, while you may not be racist yourself you must admit America has not completely put to rest its issues with race (then again you have a very good point about European nations).

Actually America has not completely put to rest issues with race because the left continues to play the race card any time they feel it can give them the political upper hand. in the last election the only people who are concerned in the least about the color Barack Obama’s skin was the left.

I said before the election of Barack Obama lost we people would tell is because America was a racist nation at that if Barack Obama won we would be told that it doesn’t prove that America is not a racist nation. as long as the left feels they can gain a political advantage by playing the race card race will reamin an issue in this country

 

[LDNCatholic]

Actually America has not completely put to rest issues with race because the left continues to play the race card any time they feel it can give them the political upper hand. in the last election the only people who are concerned in the least about the color Barack Obama’s skin was the left.

I said before the election of Barack Obama lost we people would tell is because America was a racist nation at that if Barack Obama won we would be told that it doesn’t prove that America is not a racist nation. as long as the left feels they can gain a political advantage by playing the race card race will reamin an issue in this country

Well, I would say that the election of Barack Obama, whether he had been successful or not, would not be sufficient proof of whether or not race issues were put to rest or not.

The ‘‘Race Card’’ might indeed be played too often by the left, however the issue of race has not disappeared in America, just as it has not disappeared in other places, it is not just the fault of the left.

Also, I don’t think those Neo Nazis who ‘‘disagreed’’ with Obama were members of the left.

 

[Digitonomy]

People are offended by many things, but any angst over a “black” Jesus won’t be because of his color, but rather how this “Jesus” is portrayed.

I disagree. I expect the movie will include people who are offended by his race or his color alone.

Jennifer123:

And the “Torygraph” is hardly the only source for this story…it just happens to be the story linked in this thread.

Yes, but it’s this reporter’s reaction that you describe as an example of the hypocrisy and latent racism of the left.

Jennifer123:

Why? There are many more successful blacks in the US than anywhere else in the world. Has any modern European country elected or elevated a black person to such status?

Probably because those in other countries mostly know America through news and entertainment. It’s well-known that there has historically been deep-seated racism in a sizable chunk of the population. How strong and widespread that racism is today is hard to judge, even for Americans. Improvements in things like this are rarely newsworthy, so people judged by the information available.

As for the success of black politicians in Europe, it’s not surprising that blacks have not headed a government there yet. The black population in France is around 3%, and in the UK around 2%, based on a quick web search. I can’t think of any other countries with black populations likely to be much higher. And these groups are relatively newcomers, with most families having arrived from former colonies in the last 60 years - so they haven’t had as much time to move up the economic and social ladder.

 

[estesbob]

Also, I don’t think those Neo Nazis who ‘‘disagreed’’ with Obama were members of the left.

All three of them…

 

[LDNCatholic]

All three of them…

I can name one or two more organisations numbering in the thousands in terms of membership that didn’t resort to assassination attempts but used some pretty ‘‘racially charged’’ terms to refer to Mr. Obama.

 

[estesbob]

I can name one or two more organisations numbering in the thousands in terms of membership that didn’t resort to assassination attempts but used some pretty ‘‘racially charged’’ terms to refer to Mr. Obama.

Numbering in the thousands in a country of over 300 milliion people.

 

[Jennifer123]

As for the success of black politicians in Europe, it’s not surprising that blacks have not headed a government there yet. The black population in France is around 3%, and in the UK around 2%, based on a quick web search. I can’t think of any other countries with black populations likely to be much higher. And these groups are relatively newcomers, with most families having arrived from former colonies in the last 60 years - so they haven’t had as much time to move up the economic and social ladder.

Minorities make up about 8% of the UK population. Of about 650 members of the Houseof Commons, only 15 are ethnic-minorities. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is quoted as saying racism is institutional and that the UK would not elect a black Prime Minister.
I couldn’t copy the link, but this info comes as a PDF through the Library of the House of Commons.

UK and France do not have any sort of minority representative programs, nor is there any sizeable minority middle-class as there is in the US. Upward mobility is crushed by a rigid class system, and it is only those with inherited money that have sizeable success thanks to socialism, not to newness to the continent.

You also don’t see black athletes being greeted by bananas here in the US as you do in Europe. Nor do we have the rampant race riots seen in France, or the levels of anti-semitism seen in say, Spain. Europe is hardly the tolerant bastion we are told here in the US.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

I agree Jennifer,

But did u know that 100% of usa is not orignal? Its made up of a little of everyone ,and most aren’t racist. I tell people here all the time if they were to go back to there origin , No body would be in the usa except the Natives. I have talked to many people from europe over the years that come to the usa to visit, and there amazed as how well we all get along , I told them this, I could only pray that one day the world could be at peace, just my (name removed by moderator)ut not trying to dispute against anyone.

Thanks for your reply Halos

by the way i am native american,and its snowing again in ski country upstate New York. and its cold like 10 out side lol.

 

[Digitonomy]

Minorities make up about 8% of the UK population. Of about 650 members of the Houseof Commons, only 15 are ethnic-minorities. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is quoted as saying racism is institutional and that the UK would not elect a black Prime Minister.
I couldn’t copy the link, but this info comes as a PDF through the Library of the House of Commons.

UK and France do not have any sort of minority representative programs, nor is there any sizeable minority middle-class as there is in the US. Upward mobility is crushed by a rigid class system, and it is only those with inherited money that have sizeable success thanks to socialism, not to newness to the continent.

You also don’t see black athletes being greeted by bananas here in the US as you do in Europe. Nor do we have the rampant race riots seen in France, or the levels of anti-semitism seen in say, Spain. Europe is hardly the tolerant bastion we are told here in the US.

I would agree with most of this. However, I disagree with your apparent contention that newness to the continent plays no role in the lack of success of black politicians. It takes time for immigrant groups to get assimilated to the point where they are voting blocks, and then time for such groups to establish political ties and acceptance with local voters,political parties, and finally national voters and the kingmakers in national politics.

With only 2 or 3 percent of the population, and that mostly concentrated in a few urban centers, blacks in European countries simply lack the strong backing needed to overcome the obstacles we’ve both mentioned.