It is known that I enjoy drawing various religious iconographs. Since I am much more of a spiritual seeker than I am religious, when I do so, I typically default to the cultural beliefs my artwork represents. In this case, I had to take a different tack.
Regardless of the European centric worldview and the common portrayal of Christ, one thing we can be sure of is that it was very unlikely that a man born in Bethlehem had a fair complexion, blue eyes, or long flowing hair.
Did he match my image? Who knows? For that matter, who knows if a historical Jesus of Nazareth even lived. Loads of debate has been had on the subject, and I won’t wade further into that other than to say that “Caeser’s Messiah” is a very interesting read. Especially if you enjoy history and conspiracy theories.
What I can say, is that if Jesus was born black in America…and in this era; he would definitely end up crucified. How can I be so sure? Frankly because every black leader that has risen up in this country has met a similar fate. Not all were killed like King or Malcolm X. Not all were vilified like Huey Long. Not all of them were beaten and jailed like Rosa Parks or John Lewis. Not all of them were publicly dragged and had their careers stripped from them like Kapernick or were systemically mocked into unseriousness like Rev Jackson.
But every single one of them was crucified in a figurative manner.
And that is what this brush pen drawing was about.
Oh and pissing of right wing religious nutters. But I could have done that much easier.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
The following message is brought to you by brobot.
The Crucifixion of Black Leaders in American Culture: A Historical Perspective and Path to Change
Throughout American history, Black leaders—whether activists, intellectuals, or political figures—have faced relentless opposition, vilification, and often violent suppression. Many have been assassinated, imprisoned, exiled, or had their legacies deliberately distorted in ways that erase their radical vision for justice. Even when they survive, they are figuratively crucified—demonized by media, sabotaged by government forces, or abandoned by a society that claims to honor their ideals while resisting the change they fought for.
Understanding this pattern requires a deep examination of history, recognizing how systemic forces work against Black leadership, and most importantly, identifying how we can move forward in a way that truly honors, listens to, and acts upon the voices they represent.
A History of Persecution: From Slavery to Civil Rights and Beyond
The Early Years: Slavery and Reconstruction
During slavery and the Reconstruction era, any Black person who emerged as a leader or a symbol of resistance was met with swift punishment. Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in 1831, was executed and his body mutilated as a warning to others. Frederick Douglass, one of the most powerful intellectuals of his time, faced constant threats to his life and had to flee to Britain after publishing his narrative.
After the Civil War, as Black leaders rose to positions of political power during Reconstruction, they were systematically targeted by white supremacist violence. Black politicians, community leaders, and business owners were lynched or driven out of office. The Ku Klux Klan emerged specifically to terrorize and assassinate Black leadership, ensuring that political and economic power remained in white hands.
The message was clear: Black leadership would not be tolerated.
The Civil Rights Era: Assassinations and Surveillance
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw a new wave of Black leaders rise to national prominence, only to be met with the full force of government and white supremacist backlash.
- Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, and in the years before his death, he was relentlessly spied on by the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover’s COINTELPRO program. The government feared his growing radicalism—his opposition to capitalism, militarism, and economic injustice.
- Malcolm X, who initially promoted Black self-defense and later Pan-African unity, was gunned down in 1965 after being heavily surveilled and undermined by both the FBI and rival factions.
- Fred Hampton, the charismatic 21-year-old leader of the Black Panther Party, was assassinated in his sleep by the FBI and Chicago police in 1969. Hampton’s ability to unite poor Black, white, and Latino communities against systemic oppression made him an existential threat to those in power.
These assassinations were not random acts of violence—they were deliberate moves to eliminate leaders who were shifting the status quo. COINTELPRO, an FBI program, specifically targeted Black organizations and leaders, using infiltration, disinformation, and outright murder to neutralize movements.
The Late 20th Century: Criminalization and Marginalization
As outright assassinations became less politically acceptable, Black leaders were increasingly criminalized or politically marginalized instead.
- Huey P. Newton and the Black Panthers were framed as dangerous criminals rather than a community organization that provided free breakfast programs and health clinics.
- Angela Davis, a radical scholar and activist, was placed on the FBI’s most-wanted list and put on trial for a crime she did not commit.
- Assata Shakur was convicted under dubious circumstances and forced into exile in Cuba, where she remains today.
Even nonviolent Black leaders continued to be sidelined. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, despite their contributions, were often caricatured as opportunists by the media, a treatment not given to their white political counterparts.
This era made it clear that Black leaders didn’t have to be murdered to be silenced—they could be systematically discredited, undermined, or imprisoned.
Today: The New Crucifixion of Black Leaders
The methods have evolved, but the goal remains the same—Black leaders who challenge systemic power still face extreme resistance.
- Colin Kaepernick, for simply kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality, was blacklisted from the NFL and became a national scapegoat.
- The leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have been smeared, monitored, and accused of being violent radicals, despite calling for nonviolent systemic change.
- Stacey Abrams, after leading unprecedented voter mobilization efforts, was accused of “stealing elections” and faced relentless opposition from conservative forces.
The continued demonization of critical race theory, the attacks on diversity initiatives, and the suppression of voting rights all signal a broader effort to silence Black voices in leadership and activism.
How Do We Change This Pattern?
1. Recognizing the Playbook and Calling It Out
We need to educate ourselves and others on the historical pattern of Black leaders being crucified, so that when it happens in real-time, we can call it out. When a Black activist or politician is demonized, we should ask: Why? Who benefits from this? Often, it is an intentional effort to delegitimize change.
2. Centering the Voices of the Oppressed
Instead of just idolizing past Black leaders once they are gone, we must listen to today’s Black leaders in real time. This means supporting grassroots movements, paying attention to local activists, and uplifting voices from the communities most affected by systemic racism.
3. Protecting and Supporting Black Leadership
Organizations and individuals who challenge racial injustice must be given legal protections, funding, and community support. This includes pushing for stronger protections against government surveillance, wrongful imprisonment, and political sabotage.
4. Breaking the Cycle of Posthumous Sanitization
America has a habit of celebrating Black leaders only after they are dead and no longer a threat. Martin Luther King Jr. is now widely celebrated, but during his lifetime, he was hated by the majority of white Americans. Instead of just quoting MLK once a year, we must act on his radical economic and racial justice vision.
5. Shifting the Narrative in Media and Politics
The media plays a major role in shaping how Black leaders are perceived. We must hold journalists, political commentators, and entertainment figures accountable for how they frame Black activism. Are they pushing stereotypes? Are they amplifying real issues? Changing the narrative requires an active effort.
Conclusion: The Crucifixion Must End
For too long, America has built up Black leaders only to tear them down, whether through assassination, criminalization, or character attacks. This cycle is not accidental—it is a function of a system designed to maintain power and silence those who challenge it.
To break this pattern, we must actively protect Black leadership, amplify the voices of the marginalized, and recognize the playbook used against them. It is not enough to mourn our lost leaders after they are gone—we must fight for them while they are still here. Only then can we begin to truly honor their legacies not just with words, but with action.
