Deliver Us From White Supremacy

One of the many things that vex me about the South African continent (and the United States in particular) is their overbearing presence of conservatism, white nationalism and supremacy. Whenever I open my social media or news apps, I am occasionally overcome with feelings of nausea and utter disgust at the views people project in comment sections when people of colour are involved: bigoted comments are almost always at the order of the day and expressed by older (white) Christians. Yet, I believe (depending on the platform) some younger people are also guilty of this. Although, I suppose that it is no mystery as to why, due to the aforementioned commentators they have available to them as role models. Nonetheless, this article will explore the two transnational threats of mass destruction, consistently discovering ways to obstruct democracy and justice, since before I and many others were even born: white supremacy and Western Christianity... - White supremacy and Western Christianity are both in the same WhatsApp -er, I mean Parler group and socio-political events in recent years between 2016-2020 (primarily occurring in the United States of America), have corroborated this hypothesis of mine due to the fact that these events in the U.S. always tend to influence South African conservative platforms.

Ever since the Trump-administration and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has progressed to such an extent that racism has flourished amongst white nationalist (supremacist) movements: Proud Boys, QAnon and of course MAGA. These movements form the basis of the white nationalist archetype, which has infiltrated not just America but South Africa as well under movements like Farmer's Lives Matter, We Are More (W.A.M), White Lives Matter, et al. However, perhaps let's take a few steps back. What exactly is 'white supremacy'? According to Brittanica, this label befits individuals who hold beliefs and ideas that purport the natural superiority of "light-skinned" or "white" racial groups above other racial groups: "In contemporary usage, the term white supremacist has been used to describe some groups espousing ultranationalist, racist, or fascist doctrines." - Prof. John Philip Jenkins (Distinguished Professor of History, Baylor University). Does this sound familiar? Of course it does, because all of the aforementioned groups fit this description to a "T". Although, to dive into an entire discourse solely about the variety of white supremacist political movements and organsations is futile, as they are merely the symptoms set in motion by a bigger cause.

Last year, I published a research paper in Old Testament studies on Research Gate called Human rights in South Africa: a liberal theological understanding of Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 in response to injustices of the Dutch Reformed Church, in which I traced the origins of racial injustices that transpired during Apartheid and the dominant role that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) played in the colonisation of South Africa; later influencing the formation of political policies constituting as the pillars of Apartheid and how such incendiary Christian narratives eventually perpetuated the church's anti-homosexuality attitude. Yet, after more than two decades of democracy (and separation of church from state) in post-apartheid South Africa, we still have not eliminated this irrational notion of white superiority that continues to spew sentiments of xenophobia and intolerance towards (especially) black people, from predominantly white Afrikaans Christian social contexts. This is because Christian racism and white nationalistic doctrine precedes democracy and human rights by centuries. However the concept of ethnic superiority in Christianity is not unique in its derivation from Calvinism: a branch of 'Reformed Theology' that presupposes (among other beliefs) a doctrine of election regarding that before god created the world, he predetermined certain individuals to receive salvation (or not). Obviously, John Calvin's ambiguity has resulted in Christian elitists drawing their own conclusions; utilising the doctrine towards their own means, two of which being white nationalism and supremacy.

The concept surrounding white Christian nationalism also resulted in slavery during the founding of the United States, Colonialism by the Dutch and English in Africa, including other native contexts colonised in and around the 16th century. To these European trading giants, the native-person was considered an empty canvas on which the West could paint its own picture of civilisation; thus they were considered sub-human because they weren't white or Christian (in other words, 'civilised') and therefore (as with the Nazis in Germany), they were good for nothing else than slave labour and inferior tasks, which the white man believed he was superior to. Moreover, the entire white Christian motive behind colonialism and racial oppression, appears to have conveniently ignored the native East-African origins of Christianity. Yes, Jesus of Nazareth was never white... However, even though there remain little archaeological evidence pertaining to the specific details of his existence (and therefore his racial predisposition), what we do know from important historical records by Tacitus, Tertullian, Josephus, Pliny the Younger (historians) and Mark the Evangelist (Gospel author) is that he verily did exist (as a human). Nonetheless, theologians safely assume from his Geographic origins in Galilee that he (Jesus) was Aramaic and therefore closer to a modern Arab with brown eyes and skin, and further from a white Roman.

It was, however, because of the Romans that Jesus became white (after his death) because the popularity of Jesus, threatened Roman socio-political interests. And so, Flavius Valerius Constantinus (a.k.a Constantine I) became the first Roman emperor who professed Christianity openly - not only transforming the Roman empire from a 'pagan Mecca' into a Christian state, but also paving the way for Christian culture to grow and thrive in forthcoming eras. Constantine I, also assembled the 'First Council of Nicea' in 325 C.E. as the first ecumenical (church) council of the Roman Catholic Church. And following the establishment of the church, certainly the church required some sort of iconography (idol) to help Romans relate to Jesus as their new god. Therefore in 1st century Roman religious art, Jesus became depicted as a white man for the first time ever. And even though the earliest images of Jesus emerged between the 1st-3rd centuries, they were more concerned about establishing him as 'ruler' and 'saviour' rather than depicting his appearance; therefore Christian artists relied on syncretism (combining concepts from other cultures) to develop their image of Jesus. The most popular example of this would be the mosaic of "Jesus as the good shepherd", based on pagan representations of Orpheus, Hermes and Apollo.

"Christ as the Good Shepherd" - Unknown (425 C.E.) https://projects.leadr.msu.edu/medievalart/exhibits/show/iconography_of_christ/the_good_shepherd

Other depictions of Jesus, portray him wearing a toga or other imperial clothing. Prof. Richard Viladesau thus reasons, "the mature bearded Christ, with long hair in the “Syrian” style, combines characteristics of the Greek god Zeus and the Old Testament figure Samson, among others." - Prof. Em. Richard Viladesau (Fundamental / Systematic Theology, Fordham University). In the end, these white artistic depictions of Jesus birthed an iconographic symbol that was eventually used by European colonisers to promote the superiority of whiteness (in Spain and the Americas), to keep people of colour subjugated under white Christian authority and sometimes tyranny due to growing anti-Semitism (read more...). And later on, to no surprise, the Nazis followed suit by separating Jesus and his family from his Jewish heritage in order to propagate their own narrative of the superior Aryan race via Jesus. However, the all-time popular painting of a white Jesus was that of American commercial artist Warner Sallman. Depicting a light-eyed, light-haired "Head of Christ" painted in 1940, which because of Sallman's partnership with two Christian publishing companies: one Catholic, the other Protestant, subsequently became 'the face' of prayer cards, stained glass, calendars, night lights and so forth; selling over 500 million copies of his painting.

"Head of Christ" - Warner Sallman (1940) https://theconversation.com/the-long-history-of-how-jesus-came-to-resemble-a-white-european-142130

In a nutshell, it seems the attempt to 'Europeanise' Jesus started with the idea in mind to create an idol (or worship-able) image of Jesus between the 1st and 3rd centuries C.E. in Rome (because unfortunately Christ didn't leave any selfies behind before he died), however this ideal was quickly overridden by religious art between the 7th and 14th centuries C.E. in order to start dominating the market with iconography of their 'true' Jesus, which persisted until the 15th-16th century onwards; eventually becoming a way through which non-white Christians were manipulated into obedience through visual propaganda. Now this is the part where you might start to wonder, how does this tie to white supremacy today? Well, as I mentioned earlier, the notion of white supremacy precedes both democracy and human rights by centuries - filled with artistic propaganda and religious iconographic manipulation - ideally focused on elevating the white man as superior to non-whites, because his Western ethno-centric Calvinist theology of election has deluded him to believe in his supremacy. Bearing this in mind, even though certain churches in the 21st century (apart from conservative/traditional churches) have largely replaced Calvinism for a "Theology with Interest", they have still not openly condemned intolerance and bigotry against people of colour. This is not only de facto in the United States, but also in South Africa (due to white South African Christians idealising American conservative theology and politics ad nauseum), especially where Donald Trump and the Republicans (GOP) are concerned.

Trump has therefore become the Conservative's messiah of white nationalism and supremacy because of his moral appeal to the religious masses with publicity stunts like "laying of hands" by famous televangelists in his oval office, a year after he was elected. As well as appointing one, Paula White, as his "spiritual advisor". Who made headlines in November 2020 for 'summoning' angels from Africa and South America to cement Trump's reelection this year (but failing miserably). It seems awfully pretentious seeing as though these minorities were the very people whose needs Trump and his followers conveniently ignore: perpetuating rampant police brutality, along with suggestions to segregate Mexico with a proposed wall (much like Israel and Palestine) - not to even mention Trump's inability to condemn a white supremacist rally involved in plowing a car into a group of counter-protesters at the Charlottesville white nationalist rally, in 2017. Yet, he covertly encourages these same nationalists during the presidential debate with a, "stand back and stand by". And eventually incites his roaring alt-right supporters to storm the Capitol with claims of "voter fraud" And the list goes on...

It is therefore apparent that Trump said (and did) things that conservative Christian white supremacists in the U.S. and South Africa alike have been thinking. Contributing to the conservative South African's ceaseless racism, blinding them from acknowledging the true nature behind the crime and corruption; deeply rooted in our country's past. And still, white churches in South Africa (and the U.S.) are silent about racial division, because it benefits them financially. For if they exposed the bigotry of their congregants, they would alienate them and as a result lose their fame and fortune paychecks.

White nationalist Christianity should cease from playing the victim; confusing their lack of entitlement for oppression and using it as an excuse for racism and bigotry. Never have we been in a position where we are oppressed because of our skin-colour. We have for the most part consistently lived lives of comfort and granted full amnesty during the South African TRC trials after Apartheid. Only to make no strides towards reconciliation. No, not even the Dutch Reformed Church - even though they were presented with the Belhar confession. They never took it upon themselves to take responsibility -and apologise for Apartheid. Now we want to turn around and throw stones at a 'corrupt black ANC government', who are merely a by-product of our own (Afrikaner Calvinist, white nationalist) past? This is indeed the pot calling the kettle black. Farm murders are not racial genocides - they persist due to a failing economy, adversely affecting those who live on the breadline. Their unjust brutality remain a result of our broken justice system failing its people (black, white and coloured alike) - not just those on farms but those in city suburbs; townships; Cape flats and every other crime hotspot in the country, as well. However, in the end, we may remove white supremacy from the Western Christian, but we cannot remove Western Christianity from white supremacy, for it is (and has been) inherently intertwined with Western ethno-cultural narratives.

"When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land."

Desmond Tutu