Why We Need a Brown Baby Jesus (Rewind)
Amid the wrapping paper and Christmas hymns, we need to be reminded of the radical inclusivity of the manger.
Thousands of nativity scenes are likely displayed on mantels, Christmas trees, and church lawns right now. For many of us, the image is comforting and familiar: the wooden stable, the quiet animals, and the glow of the holy family.
But if we look closer at the history, and the theology, the picture often looks quite different than the Eurocentric, porcelain figures many may be accustomed to seeing.
For this holiday edition of Rewind, we are reaching back to a conversation with author Dorena Williamson about pivotal children’s book, Brown Baby Jesus. While the book is for children, the message is a sophisticated and necessary challenge for adults, especially today.
In a time when cultural divisions may feel sharper than ever, and the question of “who belongs” dominates news headlines, Williamson invites us to look at the Incarnation as it actually happened: A Middle-Eastern child, born into a messy, multiethnic family tree, who would soon become a refugee in Africa.
This isn’t just about historical accuracy (though a brown-skinned Jesus is certainly more historically accurate than a blue-eyed one). It is about the theology of belonging. As Williamson notes, when we whitewash the Nativity, we inadvertently tell a vast majority of the world that they are spectators to the story of God, rather than participants in it.
The story of Christmas is that God entered the world through a specific lineage, one that includes outsiders and those ostracized (like Rahab and Tamar) to save everyone.
We are re-sharing this Q&A today because, amid the wrapping paper and the Christmas hymns, we need to be reminded of the radical inclusivity of the manger.
Take some time and read (or listen to) the original interview with Williamson, which explores why representation in the Nativity matters not just for our children’s self-esteem, but for the integrity of our faith.
Read the full, original interview: ‘Brown Baby Jesus’ Celebrates Jesus’ Messy, Multiethnic Family Tree
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and edited by a human for accuracy, clarity, and context.