What is the basis for claiming that 'Jesus was black'?

There are at least two passages in the Bible that have been used as a basis for claiming that Jesus was black. In the King James Version of the Bible, Song of Solomon 1:5 states, "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. read more

The basis for claiming Jesus was black is a reaction to the White Europeanization of Jesus. Both are wrong. Jesus was a Jew and would look as such. Often times in art Jesus is portrayed with the physical features of that culture. This is usually done so that there is more of a connection between the intended audience and the artwork. read more

Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law of a fever (Mark 1:30-31). Jesus healed a leper (Mark 1:40-45). Jesus healed the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus raised the widow's son from the dead (Luke 7:11-18). Jesus stilled the storm (Matthew 8:23-27). Jesus cured two demoniacs (Matthew 8:28-34). Jesus cured the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8). read more

By the 20th century, theories had also been proposed that Jesus was black, but not necessarily a descendant of any specific black African ethnicity, e.g. based on the argument that the ancient Israelites, as a group, were in whole or part originally a black people. read more