The long history of how Jesus came to resemble a white European

Recent protests on racial justice have also questioned the portrayal of Jesus as a white man. An art historian explains how this image appeared and came to be marketed worldwide.

By: Anna Swartwood House, University of South Carolina, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 4, 2026

Words: 1,454

Last Updated: 3 months, 4 weeks ago

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By Anna Swartwood House, University of South Carolina

The portrayal of Jesus as a white, European man has come under renewed scrutiny during this period of introspection over the legacy of racism in society.

As protesters called for the removal of Confederate statues in the U.S., activist Shaun King went further, suggesting that murals and artwork depicting “white Jesus” should “come down.”

His concerns about the depiction of Christ and how it is used to …

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