NAMES IN THE NEWS : Ex-Champ Ali Urges Black Jesus

LONDON — Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali was quoted today as saying black Christians should have their own black Jesus.

Ali, in an interview with the Sun, said the traditional portrayal of Jesus, angels and saints as white was meant to reinforce white supremacy and make blacks feel inferior.

“The reason is because the whites didn’t want their children to see a (black man) up there on the cross,” he added.

“If they continue with their icons, then black people should put up their own of a black Jesus, black saints and black angels. To them, Jesus is black, should be black. But to God he is no color.”

The Sun quoted a Catholic Church spokesman as saying that he would not take on Ali in the ring but that he was wrong. “Jesus was Middle Eastern,” the spokesman said.