Who are the Black Hebrew Israelites and how do their beliefs differ from mainstream Christianity?

In November 2022, a group of African-American demonstrators gathered outside of the Barclay Centre in New York City. They chanted and sang in support of Kyrie Irving, a professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets. It was the first game in which Kyrie Irving would be unable to play due to a suspension he received after tweeting a link to the film ‘Hebrew to Negro: Wake Up Black America,’ which supports the ideology of Black Hebrew Israelites. 

The film, among other things, asserts that people of colour are the true Israelites. The Brooklyn Nets along with the National Basketball Association condemned the film as “deeply disturbing anti-Semitic hate.” But who are the Black Hebrew Israelites? This article will discuss the history and major beliefs of Black Hebrew Israelites and how they differ from those of orthodox Christianity. 

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Who are the Black Hebrew Israelites?

The first important feature of Black Hebrew Israelites is that they do not represent one religion or set of beliefs. In fact, the groups that are often included in this definition do not all even identify as Black Hebrew Israelites. Certain sects prefer the title Hebrew Israelites, while at least one other uses African Hebrew Israelites to define themselves.

Although the religion is often associated with extremism and anti-Semitism, the Anti-Defamation League, an organization committed to stopping the defamation of Jews, clarifies that extremist sects are merely a “vocal subsection of the larger [Black Hebrew Israelite] movement.” Most organised branches do not espouse violence or anti-Semitism. Some of the more important sects include the “African Hebrew Israelites” and “The Church of God and the Saints of Christ.”

History

The history of the Black Hebrew Israelites movement is generally traced back to the late 19^th century. In 1892, in Guthrie Oklahoma, William S. Crowdy said that he received a vision from God declaring him to be a prophet to the world. He preached the re-establishment of the faith of historic Judaism among African Americans who he claimed were the lost Israelites. He went on to establish The Church of God and the Saints of Christ in the coming years, the first Black Hebrew Israelite church. 

It expanded across the United States and the world, though it focused more on the keeping of the Ten Commandments and other Jewish laws than on African Americans’ Hebrew descent – though that would soon become a main tenet of the religion.

Frank Cherry, another African American, also claimed to have received a vision near the end of the 19th century. He too concluded Africans were the true Israelites. He was the founder of a church called Church of the Living God, the Pillar Ground of Truth for All Nations. Contrary to Crowdy, Cherry’s views were more directly race-related as he claimed white people were descended from Gehazi, a man in the Bible cursed with leprosy.

Growth 

Over the coming century, the religion continued to grow in relative obscurity. One important leader during this time was Ben Ammi. In 1966, he, like Crowdy and Cherry before, said that he received a vision that Africans were the true Israelites. The vision revealed that it was time for African Americans to return to their homeland and establish the Kingdom of God. In accordance with this command, he, along with his followers, moved from the United States to Africa and then on to Israel. There, he set up a community that survives to this day. They practice strict observance of Holy Days and laws regulating things such as what they wear as well as being vegans.

Fame

Black Hebrew Israelites came into popular consciousness in the 21st century and almost exclusively in a negative light. A large part of this was another leader named Ronald Dalton Jr. He directed the film Hebrew to Negro: Wake Up Black America as well as writing the book of the same name. Like other leaders before him, Dalton said that he received a vision declaring the true heritage of African Americans. According to both Jewish and secular reporters, the book and movie contain anti-Semitic rhetoric including denying the Holocaust and claiming that Jews are fake Israelites who are stealing African Americans’ identity. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, contributed to the negative view of the religion with his infamous tweet in which he said he would “[go] death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE’’ and that he “actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew.” 

In the last few years, there have been a number of racially motivated shootings in Jewish communities committed by those espousing Black Hebrew Israelite ideologies. None of these have been directly connected to the large organised sects of the religion however.

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Beliefs

Almost all varieties of Black Hebrew Israelites agree on two things. First, that Africans are the true Israelites and not Jews, and second, that prophecy continues.

The claim that African Americans are the true Israelites is based on several factors. Most Black Hebrew Israelites trace their lineage back to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. When the remnant of Israel was dispersed, Black Hebrew Israelites claim some went to Africa. From there they carried on their religion and parts of their culture for centuries until being captured and brought to America. 

They point to Deuteronomy 28:68, which speaks of Israelites being taken in ships, as a prophecy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. As continued evidence of their heritage, Black Hebrew Israelites will point to “slave songs” which commonly mention Moses and the Promised Land. Even some of their words such as “ain’t” they claim comes from African Hebrew.

The second essential tenet of most Black Hebrew Israelite sects is the belief that prophesy continues. Every major Black Hebrew Israelite movement began with one man claiming that he received a vision from God. These visions declared them each to be holy prophets sent by God to share with African Americans the truth of their heritage. Considering their religion is based on these revelations, prophecy became a large part of what they believe.

How Black Hebrew Israelite Beliefs Differ from mainstream Christianity

Most Black Hebrew Israelites’ theological beliefs reflect those of devout Jews. The essential difference between these beliefs and those of Christians is the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. For Black Hebrew Israelites, Jesus is a good teacher or maybe even a prophet. In the Church of God and the Saints of Christ’s statement of faith, they quote Jesus multiple times, holding a special reverence for The Lord’s Prayer. Yet they still “look forward to a coming messianic age.”

They do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah or the Son of God in equal divinity with God the Father. This raises an essential question: where is their hope for salvation?

Christians put their full trust for salvation in Jesus Christ. Through his perfect keeping of the law, he acted as a substitute for sinners’ imperfection. He took on the human punishment deserved for that imperfection as a human but took on the infinite punishment of an infinite God because he is God. 

On the other hand, like almost all non-Christian religions, salvation for Black Hebrew Israelites is accomplished by their deeds. They believe they are justified by their keeping of the Mosaic law to one level or another. St. Paul, in the book of Galatians, addresses this belief which many Jewish Christians held in his day. He writes: “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ… because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16 ESV). Even Abraham, the founding patriarch of Israel, was saved by faith for “he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6 ESV). Paul, along with the rest of the Bible, testifies that the only way to please a perfect, just God is through a perfect sacrifice, that is Jesus.

Black Hebrew Israelites’ rise to fame may be due to anti-Semitism, but this may not have clearly represented their complex beliefs and traditions. What is clear is that, like every nation and tongue, Black Hebrew Israelites need the truth of the gospel to set them free from the weight of the law.

Micah Foster is a digital media major at Harford Community College. After graduating with his associates degree, he hopes to pursue further training in biblical studies. He loves thinking and writing about how the Christian faith affects every aspect of life.