Passion of the Christ heats up Black professor

Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ hasn't even opened and there's more conflict. This time the issue involves race and the fact that you won't see too much racial diversity in the movie. Previously, many Jewish clergymen attacked Gibson for what they say was the film’s anti-Semitic views.

Allen University professor of religious studies, Gregory Grooms, says he’s against the movie because it’s a Hollywood depiction of white religion. He thinks society has created a Jesus that doesn’t fit a true view that’s presented in the Bible.

“We have taken religion, especially in Christianity in America, and we have made this white, blue-eyed, long-haired Jesus that we think this whole world is suppose to buy hook, line, and sinker."

Grooms says at one point in the New Testament, during the crucifixion process, a man of color carried Jesus’ cross. If the movie is suppose to be an accurate depiction, according to Grooms, then Gibson’s movie should do just that. He says it does nothing of the sort.

Phillip Linder is a dean at Columbia’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He says grooms might have a point. “Even from a historical prospective there would have been people with darker complexions than perhaps was portrayed in the film,” said Lindler.

Many casual observers say race and religion are two very dividing and controversial issues.

Many people spoken to for this article say no matter the skin color of the person on the cross, it’s not something religious people should be concerned about.

Ann Miller, a caucasian American, says she expected to see Jews and Romans in the movie and never really thought about it. Jerome Henson, an African American, says when dealing with the issue of religion you have to look beyond that because if you don't you will be at a standstill and will never be able to move on.

While Dean Lindler thinks the movie is a must see, Grooms says no one should. Both are passionate views about a passionate movie.

The movie will debut to the public tomorrow but many of its showings are sold out. Several Midlands’ churches have bought out movie times for their congregations.

Reported by:

Kenneth Moton

Kenneth Moton came to the University of South Carolina in Fall of 2000 from Abbeville, SC. He graduated from the University of South Carolina College of Mass Communications and Information Studies in May of 2004. Kenneth also studied Spanish at the university and hopes to use some of his skills in his broadcast career.
Kenneth began as a part-time assignment editor at WLTX-TV where he was eventually hired as as full-time weekend reporter/night assignment editor in April of 2004.