“Black, Beautiful and Holy”

by: Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds

(NNPA Columnist)

Black, beautiful and holy

by Rev. Barbara Reynolds

NNPA Columnist

Each time the health of Pope John Paul II declines, there is much speculation over who would be his likely successor as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Newsweek, in its April 16, 2001, edition, went so far as to name Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria as the prelate who could potentially step into this role as leader of more than 1 billion Christians, making up 17.4 percent of the world’s population.

It would be wonderful if the Black Cardinal did become head of the world’s largest body of Christians, but he would not be the first Black pope. There have been three Black popes, including Victor I, who fixed Sundays as the date for the celebration of Easter, according to the Original Black Heritage Bible.

What better time than now during the Lenten Season to correct some of the major inaccuracies about Blacks and their contributions to Christendom? Historically, these discrepancies and omissions have produced severe consequences.

Lies provided ammunition for slaveholders to treat Blacks as human animals without souls. Moreover, lies and half-truths have resulted in too many Blacks thinking of Christianity as a “White man’s religion,” when from its very conception in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Africans – as well as women – participated and continued in the expansion of the Christian faith.

Besides Saint Victor I, the 15th pope, there was Militiades, the 32nd pope. During his reign, the Roman Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity in 313 A.D., and Militiades received permission from Constantine for Christians to worship free of persecution.

Saint Gelasius I, the 49th pope, was born in Rome of African parents and was one of the most productive popes of the fifth century. He settled the dispute over the use of wine at Holy Communion, allowing it as an option. His writings on papal authority are still current.  

To their credit, Catholics celebrate many Black saints.  Only the Vatican can declare someone a saint in the Catholic Church.  Nomination only begins the process.  At least two certified miracles must be attributed to the individual, except for martydrom.  Unfortunately, many Black denominations are either unaware of this rich history or do not deem it worthy of teaching.

As Christians reflect on the passion and suffering of Christ, this is also a proper time to honor the many Black martyrs who died protecting their Christian beliefs.

It is a sad commentary that while Blacks are being taught how fortunate we are that White missionaries came to Africa to save us in the 19th century, African Christians were being torn by lions and sawed in half for their devout faith in the first and second centuries after the Crucifixion of Christ.

Two African women, Perpetua and Feliciti, are among those honored as saints. Despite threats of persecution and death, Perpetua and her maidservant, Feliciti, refused to worship the Roman gods. For their offenses, in 202 A.D. they were thrown to the lions, but the lions refused to attack. Although the crowd chanted for their release, Roman officials beheaded them.

Some Africans, such as Saint Charles Lwanga, are recent martyrs. He was one of 22 Ugandans burned to death on June 3, 1886, for his unwillingness to submit to sexual acts he deemed immoral.

As a child, I attended an elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, named after Saint Cyprian, who was Bishop of Carthage, a city in Northern Africa, in the early third century. As primate of Africa, Cyprian brought his scholarly talents to his ministry, becoming one of the greatest African writers in church history. His service to the church brought him in opposition with the Roman government, who ordered him beheaded.

In this holy season, we should also celebrate two Black men, who were among those who played an important role in the ministry of Jesus. Simon, the Canaanite, was a Jew by nationality but Black through genealogy, since he was a direct descendant of Ham, the Black son of Noah. Simon is also identified in some biblical versions by his political group, the Zealots. Yet other than in books, such as “The Black Biblical Heritage” by John L. Johnson, Simon’s identity as one of the original 12 disciples and an apostle is a well-kept secret.

More well known is Simon of Cyrene, an African Jew who helped the Messiah bear his cross to Mt. Calvary. Nothing more is said about him in scripture except for the mention of his two sons, Rufus and Alexander, who also became leaders in the Christian church. Even Hollywood’s “Passion of Christ” allowed a darker character to play the role of this Simon in a token bow to historical accuracy.

During Christianity’s most holy season, what better time to review the sacred role Blacks have played in the spread of Christianity. Maybe this knowledge will help us to remember that while it was once said that Black is beautiful, long before that, it was holy as well.

Rev. Barbara Reynolds is the religion columnist for NNPA is an author of four books, including “Out Of Hell & Living Well: Healing from the Inside Out: and a graduate of the Howard University School of Divinity and the United Theological Seminary, where she earned a doctorate degree in ministry. She can be reached at www.reynoldsworldnews.com.