Are people from MENA white?

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Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#22
Folks, this topic is NOT about Jesus. It is about the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.

Let's keep it simple, would you consider certain peoples from the region to be light skinned?
Strange... You started the first post in this thread with, "The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today..."

Either way, it doesn't really seem to matter to anybody else who has chipped in on this thread. I don't think you're going to get the debate you want here.

I suggest starting a topic about food. Food topics always get a LOT of discussion for some strange reason. :D
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
8
#23
Strange... You started the first post in this thread with, "The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today..."

Either way, it doesn't really seem to matter to anybody else who has chipped in on this thread. I don't think you're going to get the debate you want here.

I suggest starting a topic about food. Food topics always get a LOT of discussion for some strange reason. :D
I now wonder what would have been the responses if this thread was started by Seoulsearch...

Believe it or not there has been a thread about a related topic not that long ago, right here in Christian Singles Forum:

https://christianchat.com/christian...to-be-in-order-to-be-able-to-claim-it.204570/

And the reference to Jesus was merely an analogy to the actual topic.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
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#24
And actually, Seoulsearch's thread was my inspiration for this one.

I was intending to put myself on the feet of an individual from the Middle East or North Africa, who did read the thread and now asks himself "What race would I be? Could I count as a white person?"
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#25
And actually, Seoulsearch's thread was my inspiration for this one.

I was intending to put myself on the feet of an individual from the Middle East or North Africa, who did read the thread and now asks himself "What race would I be? Could I count as a white person?"
I'm going to bed, but I'll catch your reply on the flip side.

If he could count as a white person, what would that mean in the context of this thread?

If he could not count as a white person, what would that mean in the context of this thread?
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
1,439
1,365
113
#26
Folks, this topic is NOT about Jesus. It is about the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.

Let's keep it simple, would you consider certain peoples from the region to be light skinned?
Hi! To answer your question... there are people in the middle East who are darker...I've seen darker skin people there when I was there way back 2005 ... Now about the people in North America I don't know...Never been there ☺
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
7,926
3,316
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#27
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today, and I think the main problematic factor behind this is the disputed racial classification of MENA natives.

It is very common to hear from people and media that Jesus was brown skinned, simply because he was a Jew from the Middle East, and to accuse anybody who disagrees of being an anti-Semite and a white supremacist.

Many ignorant Westerners assume as well that all MENA people are dark skinned and form a race of their own. Some even go further and extend those stereotypes to Southern Europeans, because their average complexions are slightly darker than those of other Europeans.

The thing however is that there are many different peoples inside the Middle East and North Africa, and Westerners have universalized the image of the stereotypical Gulf Arab for the whole region. Many think the average person from Lebanon looks exactly the same as the average person from Oman. Many don’t realize the only actual Arabs are those found in the Arabian Peninsula. The rest are assimilated peoples from diverse backgrounds like Assyrians, Chaldeans, Arameans, Phoenicians, Philistines, Egyptians, Berbers and others.

From what I have noticed, many people, and I mean many, from countries like Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia or Algeria look as fair as a typical European, and not few of them even have light hair and eyes. Sorry to burst your bubble Anglocentrists. And I know this is very politically incorrect to say, but honestly, I can’t distinguish a Syrian from a Greek, nor a Tunisian from an Italian. They can all be siblings!

In southern MENA countries people are generally darker, due to the higher African admixture. But even in Yemen there are some people with light complexions, and I’m not talking about foreigners.

Nevertheless, I’m interested in seeing your perspective on the topic. This can open an interesting debate.
I think that the middle east is primarily classified as Caucasian. However, it seems that the Ashkanazi Jews are modern immigrants of little relation to the original tribes. These Europeans take claim on a land mass and all of a sudden popular preachers give their anointing to the new residents as the seed of Abraham.
Many were blonde hair blue eyes .
However, the original tribes intermarried with so many gentile nations, I wouldn't think there would be any way of telling from genealogies or genetics testing to trace back very far.

Many nations are changing. If I had time, I'd find JBs clip of him congratulating their plans to bring so many illegals into the North American states that light skinned majority would be the minority. I just think he was revelling in his new voting block.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#28
depends on how much sun they exposed to, it can vary. Many people in North Africa and the Middle East have olive skin, which is not white. Its olive.

People who are albinos or that have leprosy have white skin. And vampires who never go out during the day.

Northern Europeans tend to have very pale pinky or peach skin.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#29
Lots of people have freckles too, so it depends, they can be a combination.

As for Jesus, he was Jewish he may have had olive-y skin and also he had quite a few egyptians and moabites in his lineage which you can read in Matthew. One of Solomons wives it was said in scriptute that she was dark.

Esau we know had red hair
and David was described as 'ruddy'.

Though what shade skin wasnt really mentioned in scripture, we know Jesus has white hair in revelation. So yes Jesus was white in that he had white hair its said as white like wool or snow ...but his feet was like brass like they had been burned in a furnace.

IF you read the Bible you can figure most of this stuff out yourself.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#30
I now wonder what would have been the responses if this thread was started by Seoulsearch...
Would you believe... Exactly the same? Or at least they always have been. seoulsearch is always using illustrations in the first posts of threads she starts, and the threads are always derailing around those illustrations.

It has become such a theme that it is almost a meme. We're always trying to help her keep her threads on course. I've told her it might be easier to just skip the illustration.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
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#31
Hi! To answer your question... there are people in the middle East who are darker...I've seen darker skin people there when I was there way back 2005 ... Now about the people in North America I don't know...Never been there ☺
It's North Africa not North America.

What country or countries did you visit in the Middle East?

I'm aware that some Middle Eastern people are darker, particularly those in the Arabian Peninsula. But in Levant for example most people look about as fair as a Southern European. How was your experience?
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
8
#32
depends on how much sun they exposed to, it can vary. Many people in North Africa and the Middle East have olive skin, which is not white. Its olive.
True, but still, there are regions where most people actually look white.

As for Jesus, he was Jewish he may have had olive-y skin and also he had quite a few egyptians and moabites in his lineage which you can read in Matthew. One of Solomons wives it was said in scriptute that she was dark.
I'm not intending to bash you, but ironically most Egyptians don't seem that dark skinned to me. Moab was located in modern day Jordan, and many Jordanians aren't dark either.

As for the Shulammite woman, her "dark" is very ambiguous. It is later said she was darkened by the sun, meaning she could simply have had a tanned complexion.
Though what shade skin wasnt really mentioned in scripture, we know Jesus has white hair in revelation. So yes Jesus was white in that he had white hair its said as white like wool or snow ...but his feet was like brass like they had been burned in a furnace.
Certain translations say both his hair and head were white. But regardless I don't think this description should be applied to his earthly appearance, unless you are willing to believe he had seven stars in his right hand and a double-edged sword coming out of his mouth.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
8
#33
I'm going to bed, but I'll catch your reply on the flip side.

If he could count as a white person, what would that mean in the context of this thread?

If he could not count as a white person, what would that mean in the context of this thread?
I mean because I have found people from MENA to be conflicted on the topic. Some identify themselves as white while others vehemently refuse this term.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#34
I mean because I have found people from MENA to be conflicted on the topic. Some identify themselves as white while others vehemently refuse this term.
Ah, THAT'S what you're after!

Flippant reply:
Well there was an NAACP leader who claimed to be black, but later we found out she was whiter than white, but she "identifies" as black anyway... Shoot, Michael Jackson was a poor black boy who grew up to be a rich white woman. So I guess anything goes. o_O

Serious reply:
That probably explains the confusion. Everyone was distracted by the line about Jesus because none of us are aware of this matter you mention. I've never even heard of MENA people being conflicted or confused about what race they are. From the general responses you have gotten on this thread, I gather nobody else has ever heard of it either. We all thought you were trying to stir up argument about what race Jesus is.

I dunno... Maybe you'll luck out and find someone else who is well versed on the subject. Here's hoping.

I imagine you feel about the same way I feel when I mention (anything computer related) at the job, and nobody understands what I'm talking about. :oops::cautious::censored:
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#35
I now wonder what would have been the responses if this thread was started by Seoulsearch...

Believe it or not there has been a thread about a related topic not that long ago, right here in Christian Singles Forum:

https://christianchat.com/christian...to-be-in-order-to-be-able-to-claim-it.204570/

And the reference to Jesus was merely an analogy to the actual topic.
Oh, I can assure you the same thing would have happened. And it's not really anyone's fault.

Human nature seems to compel the reader to grab onto the given examples rather than the actual topic, and it's something everyone does, including me.

But threads without examples either don't garner many answers or go even more astray due to lack of clarification, so I'll always prefer to work through the mine field that results when including them.

As for the topic at hand, I don't have anything to contribute that hasn't already been said, but thanks for the nod and I wish you the best in getting the discussion you're looking for.

And if you don't get it, just fire 🔥 up your keyboard and go ahead and write about the next topic you have in mind. 🙂

Anyone who does so regularly knows that writing controversial threads is almost like a challenging part-time job, but sometimes the unexpected answers or twists turn out to be the most interesting. 🙂
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
7,926
3,316
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#36
Lots of people have freckles too, so it depends, they can be a combination.

As for Jesus, he was Jewish he may have had olive-y skin and also he had quite a few egyptians and moabites in his lineage which you can read in Matthew. One of Solomons wives it was said in scriptute that she was dark.

Esau we know had red hair
and David was described as 'ruddy'.

Though what shade skin wasnt really mentioned in scripture, we know Jesus has white hair in revelation. So yes Jesus was white in that he had white hair its said as white like wool or snow ...but his feet was like brass like they had been burned in a furnace.

IF you read the Bible you can figure most of this stuff out yourself.
You mean that those Renaissance paintings aren't from eye witnesses?
I thought Michaelangelo had seen Him. After all, he had meetings with the pope and all. 😦
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
7,926
3,316
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#37
Ah, THAT'S what you're after!

Flippant reply:
Well there was an NAACP leader who claimed to be black, but later we found out she was whiter than white, but she "identifies" as black anyway... Shoot, Michael Jackson was a poor black boy who grew up to be a rich white woman. So I guess anything goes. o_O

Serious reply:
That probably explains the confusion. Everyone was distracted by the line about Jesus because none of us are aware of this matter you mention. I've never even heard of MENA people being conflicted or confused about what race they are. From the general responses you have gotten on this thread, I gather nobody else has ever heard of it either. We all thought you were trying to stir up argument about what race Jesus is.

I dunno... Maybe you'll luck out and find someone else who is well versed on the subject. Here's hoping.

I imagine you feel about the same way I feel when I mention (anything computer related) at the job, and nobody understands what I'm talking about. :oops::cautious::censored:
I thought he was talking about the Clintons.
Their closest body guard wrote a book about their MENA Connection to some "business" deals in Arkansas.

Next Question:. Was Sodom Hussain Obama a black man or a white man?
😄
 

cinder

Senior Member
Mar 26, 2014
4,327
2,359
113
#38
I mean because I have found people from MENA to be conflicted on the topic. Some identify themselves as white while others vehemently refuse this term.
People from there who are still living in that area, or people from there who are living in the US or Europe and are trying to explain to such cultures where they fit in our world of white, black, latino, asian, or native american ? ........... hmmm that reminds me of a song..... red and yellow, black and white they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world (even those who don't feel like they fit the above color categories).
 

Jesusfollower

Active member
Oct 21, 2021
352
195
43
jamaica
#39
Well, I said all races are equal.
Really treally, here is only one Human race. Skin color is a genetic trait just like eye color and hair color no more really!

As for Jesus appearance, some people who had visions and dreams describe him as white, ordinary look, nor beautiful nor ugly, a man you would not notice in a crowd. Brown hair a bit wavy, hair does not touch shoulders, Brown eyes....

Peace.

JF
 

Hazelelponi

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2019
609
397
63
USA
#40
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today, and I think the main problematic factor behind this is the disputed racial classification of MENA natives.

It is very common to hear from people and media that Jesus was brown skinned, simply because he was a Jew from the Middle East, and to accuse anybody who disagrees of being an anti-Semite and a white supremacist.

Many ignorant Westerners assume as well that all MENA people are dark skinned and form a race of their own. Some even go further and extend those stereotypes to Southern Europeans, because their average complexions are slightly darker than those of other Europeans.

The thing however is that there are many different peoples inside the Middle East and North Africa, and Westerners have universalized the image of the stereotypical Gulf Arab for the whole region. Many think the average person from Lebanon looks exactly the same as the average person from Oman. Many don’t realize the only actual Arabs are those found in the Arabian Peninsula. The rest are assimilated peoples from diverse backgrounds like Assyrians, Chaldeans, Arameans, Phoenicians, Philistines, Egyptians, Berbers and others.

From what I have noticed, many people, and I mean many, from countries like Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia or Algeria look as fair as a typical European, and not few of them even have light hair and eyes. Sorry to burst your bubble Anglocentrists. And I know this is very politically incorrect to say, but honestly, I can’t distinguish a Syrian from a Greek, nor a Tunisian from an Italian. They can all be siblings!

In southern MENA countries people are generally darker, due to the higher African admixture. But even in Yemen there are some people with light complexions, and I’m not talking about foreigners.

Nevertheless, I’m interested in seeing your perspective on the topic. This can open an interesting debate.
I've listed myself as white all my life - no interest in changing it. I don't do the "lived experience" nonsense or desire the government to list me in a "protected" class. I'll live and die a white American, citizen of these United States as it should be.