Frankly Answered Questions - FAQs

What about the white devil race?

Q: I am a college student. I have just finished reading Malcolm X's autobiography. I am curious to your response on white devils. In the book it is said that Mr. Yacub was sent to the island of Patmos (this same island is described in the Bible as the island where John received the message contained in Revelations in the New Testament) where he began to create the white race by breeding together lighter and lighter complexioned people until the 'bleached out devil race' emerged. Do you have any information on this, for or against it. I would be interested in reading it. Please let me know either way.

Also could you comment on the statement that Christianity is the White man's religion and only served the black man by keeping them under the heal of the white man or in slavery. I am not saying I believe or disbelieve any of this, but I am curious as to what you would have to say about this. Thank you.

A: I don't have any information on Mr. Yacub and the creation of the white devil race on the isle of Patmos. Your email was the first I have ever heard of the story.

I agree that Christianity (or a bastard form of Christianity) was used to keep Afro-Americans under the heel of the white man. No one can deny that there were preachers and churches and whole denominations that tried to justify the slavery of a race from the Bible. They misquoted and misused God's Word to enslave, murder, and abuse black men and women.

But the gospel that was proclaimed by Jesus was given to ALL the nations (Matthew 28:18). Jesus was born a Jew - not a European white man. He was not blonde and blue eyed. Jesus crossed all cultural and religious and racial boundaries in his lifetime. Christians are told to do the same. Concerning slavery, the Bible itself (Old and New Testament) NEVER commanded or condoned or encouraged or allowed enslavement because of race (only as a result of war).

One final point is that while some Christians were using their religion to subjugate the black man, other Christians (both white and black) who read the Bible without "colored" glasses saw that freedom and justice was the right of all men of every race. These Christians were the founders of the abolition and emancipation movement in the United States.