It seems that many Americans think that Jesus was a white dude. Why?

Answer 1

The pictures in my Bible show Him as white so he must be.

Answer 2

There are black-skinned Jews, and they are from Ethiopia. Up until three years ago, the majority of black Jews were still in Ethiopia, but most of them have now been airlifted to Israel – and this is where the majority of black-skinned Jews live today. It is correct that the black population descended from some of the sons of Ham, and, based upon Genesis 10, we know that these people settled in Central and South Africa. Other olive-skinned descendants of Ham, such as the Egyptians, settled in North Africa. And the descendants of Ham’s fourth son, Canaan, also olive-skinned, settled in the land of Canaan which later became the land of Israel. The origin of the black Jews comes from an intermarriage between the local Hamitic black and Jewish Semitic populations. After Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C., many Jews fled to Egypt and later became Egyptian army members who guarded the cataracts of the Nile in regions that are today Ethiopia. These Jews from Israel intermarried with the local black population that had adopted Mosaic Judaism – such is the origin of the Ethiopian Jews, sometimes known as the Falasha Jews.

We know Jesus was a Jew and was born in Jerusalem.

Answer 3

not just americans.. i live in england and its true most churches have this picture of Jesus as this tall white guy with long hair, but where did that image come from?? i don't remeber recalling in my bible a description of what our saviour looked like, and i think that is because it was his inner being and kindness that mattered not his outer image. I also know some people who argue that he was black, but you know what who cares?? should his colour really determin whether people believe in him or not, no one will know what he looks like until judgement day. I can't wait 2 tell u the truth, i have a feeling he won't look like the pictures all the churches have but i know hes gonna be beautiful :-)

Answer 4

I'm not convinced at all that He was white. The Lord Jesus was more than likely Middle Eastern. So if you want a nice picture He was more than likely had a mixed appearance.

Answer 5

everyone know that society in the past would label and make judgments based soley on the way they wanted things to be (like the earth being flat). Jesus in all honestly probably had a medium middle eastern tone. i wanna know why Jesus had long hair and now days everyone says long haired people are hippie pot heads lol. they wouldn't call jesus that, and in all probability he probably smoked as did most the people in these times.

Answer 6

There are two references to the physicality of Jesus, both are unflattering and suggest he was small, perhaps less than 5 feet (1.52 metres). It was further suggested that he had a stooped/hunched back. Strangely, for a `son of God`, few could be bothered to record any physical details, or if they did, they never passed the censors.

Answer 7

I'm american and know that He probably looked much darker, like the Jewish people in that region and times did.

The reason why He's been represented as white is more of a cultural and social affect.

Answer 8

I think alot of people want to identify Jesus with themselves in some way. People like to imagine Jesus looking the way they do. I think that's alright... I don't think God minds. (He probably thinks it's cute) However, Jesus was of Jewish lineage and lived in Israel. And so, he was probably a light olive or tan complexion... something like that. Anyway... His color isn't what matters, it's what He taught us and sacrificed for us... what He did to restore the fellowship with the Father, for all mankind and for all races, religions, cultures, creeds and colors. That, to me is what matters.

Answer 9

I think that most who believe in Jesus think that he resembles their ethnicity. I think that is why there are apparently no real drawings of Jesus.
The paintings/drawings you see are only some man/woman's idea of what Jesus looks like.

Answer 10

Because that is what society has taught us to belive. Jesus was actually of dark hair and skin if you read your bible. He was from the Middle East not Europe.

Answer 11

Because the majority of us are white, and humans tend to relate better to things or other people that look and/or act like them.