The black king is gone - anyone notice?

[trillion]

I looked all over for him this Christmas since my racist brother threw out the black king in my mantle Christmas nativity set.

I saw tons of nativities in plenty of stores but every person in the scene was white in all of them.

He's supposed to represent the king from the south - Africa. The other kings are from the east and west and the forth king is supposed to be Christ - the king of the north - the other kings follow the north star to come to him - the new born king.

But no, America is too racist to allow a black king in the nativity this year. The black king has been replaced by a safe white king. The meaning is gone.

Anyone else notice?

[trillion]

2. Why is this shitty? I'm a duality of Christianity and Buddhism.

The black king really is gone. Seriously, he has been replaced by a white king in all of them. Actually, I consider your post shitty. It says religious intolerance all over it.

[akbacchus_BC]

3. Feel free to think you are smart!

Most likely you are referring to a black DUer on here and hilarious that he is not on here!

[joshcryer]

4. Put down the egg nog.

[akbacchus_BC]

7. Why? Because you say so. I do not drink egg nog, thank you very much!

[trillion]

5. I know no black Du'er's here at all. I know NO du'ers here. I usually post in latest breaking news.

If there is a poster associated with black king it has ZERO to do with my post and I've never heard of them.

[trillion]

19. Excuse me? I don't know anyone here from the black community.

I don't know a single poster here. And it's your ignorance and attitude that is on display. What a piece of work you are. I'm glad I don't know you. You're someone who would make me use that ignore list I haven't tried yet.

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. Three wise men _ here are examples of the Balathzar with dark skin and with light skin

[sarge43]

46. Another

Ben Hur, 1959

[Blus4u]

76. My mother used to decorate for Chistmas with a nativity

and one of the kings was black. That was in the mid 1950's

Peace

[sarge43]

77. Grew up during the 50's and that's how I remember it. n/t

[tazkcmo]

78. Us too

So much paranoia.

[Chan790]

61. I suspect he's referring to the same anglicization of the nativity scene that I've noticed.

The wise man, Balthazar, traditionally depicted as black, has been increasingly been replaced in recent years in nativity depictions by a more-Caucasian wise man. It's not coincidental. Nor is it new; they were originally all depicted as "non-white" (actually, "non-Westernized" would be a better descriptor...not Western European or Semitic)

• Melchior: typically depicted as Persian. Some Orthodox churches depict him as Russian or Ukrainian.
  
  
• Caspar (or Gaspar, Jaspar, Gathaspa): typically depicted as Indian; occasionally Afghan (under the name Gondophares/Gudapharasa and after whom his birth city (alternately the city he founded) of Kandahar is now named.) or East Asian. (specifically, Chinese)
  
  
• Balthazar: typically depicted as black and Babylonian, Sumerian, Assyrian or Phoenician descent. (Note: None of these cultures are typically ethnically black) Rarely as North African, Nubian.
  
  The same holier-than-thou conservative "Christian" apostates that have never cracked a Bible in their life or learned the actual teachings of Jesus but feel justified to persecute like Pharisees in his name because Falwell, Robertson, Ted Cruz and Phyllis Schafly have given it their ungodly imprimatur also tend to be racists who do not want or buy nativity scenes with a Black, Asian or Muslim-looking person in them.

[closeupready]

69. Thank you. Lots of truth here.

[Skittles]

10. WTF

it's an observation, and a valid one......why are you so threatened?

[akbacchus_BC]

17. Skittles, you are not always right!

Just leave it be!

[Skittles]

40. put down the pipe and get some sleep

who the fuck thinks I am always right?

[Android3.14]

51. I think you called it.

I try to avoid posting when I am intoxicated. It's too easy to misunderstand something and then refuse to back down. By the time you sober up, the damage is done.

[In_The_Wind]

54. spot on

Oh my! You are right again!

[madinmaryland]

113. You won't be seeing him/her around her for three months. Talk about flaming out!!

[Skittles]

117. supreme flaming

hysteria over a.....black king.....because, we all know all nativity scene participants should be as white as this background.

[madinmaryland]

119. Say what??

My DU background is black with white text. Ordering up an asskicking for Skittles!!

[Skittles]

121. *HEH*

[tazkcmo]

79. Take your own advice.

And the advice about the pipe and sleep. I agree with the poster. Have you ever seen a Jesus in the movies that didn't have blue eyes and a British accent?

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. One of the wise men - Balthazar

Apart from their names, the three Magi developed distinct characteristics in Christian tradition, so that between them they represented the three ages of (adult) man, three geographical and cultural areas, and sometimes other things. In the normal Western account, reflected in art by the 14th century (for example in the Arena Chapel by Giotto in 1305) Caspar is old, normally with a white beard, and gives the gold; he is "King of Tarsus, land of merchants" on the Mediterranean coast of modern Turkey, and is first in line to kneel to Christ. Melchior is middle-aged, giving frankincense from his native Arabia, and Balthazar is a young man, very often and increasingly black-skinned, with myrrh from Saba (modern south Yemen). Their ages were often given as 60, 40 and 20 respectively, and their geographical origins were rather variable, with Balthazar increasingly coming from Ethiopia or other parts of Africa, and being represented accordingly.[39] Balthazar's blackness has been the subject of considerable recent scholarly attention; in art it is found mostly in northern Europe, beginning from the 12th century, and becoming very common in the north by the 15th.[40]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi

[trillion]

27. Wow, I didn't now any of that.

[joshcryer]

6. This never even occurred to me until you mentioned it.

I don't know how long this has been the case but you're absolutely right. My moms' nativity scene growing up did indeed have a black king.

[trillion]

12. You're kidding right? You seriously don't know that a normal nativity set has a black king?

[Skittles]

15. you need to chill out

[akbacchus_BC]

18. You need to leave me alone to respond to people on here.

[trillion]

20. I think I'll just start alerting your posts. You're as offensive as they come.

And you're completely littered my thread with your vomit.

[akbacchus_BC]

25. Be my guest, alert as much as you want! Who is stopping you?

[trillion]

28. done.

[stonecutter357]

57. +1

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. I don't normally involve myself with DU arguments but .... calm down... obviously you now have

Proof that trillion wasn't trying to attack a DUer with his/her OP. Black kings did and do exist.

[cleanhippie]

131. Thankfully, a jury stopped you.

Take the next three months to reflect on what took place here.

C' Ya!

[tazkcmo]

81. You've been given ample evidence

That you are wrong and yet continue. Just because you live in a pasty white bubble doesn't mean the rest of us do.

[Rex]

109. You've completely lost it now, why not admit you were wrong?

Is that impossible? So skittles shows you proof and do you say 'oops I am wrong sorry'...of course not.

[davidpdx]

52. And the results are in...........

On Mon Dec 28, 2015, 03:06 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Now you are lying! Honestly, in which nativity set is there a black king? I used to respect
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7478960

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Personal attack.

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Dec 28, 2015, 03:30 AM, and the Jury voted 6-1 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This poster is just crapping all over the thread and deserves hides for a lot of their posts. Accusing another poster of lying when they're the one who's full of shit (yes, dude, there are lots of Nativity sets with black kings) is way over the top.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: The DUer not only called Josh a lire, but inferred that he is disingenuous for offering his experience. It almost feels like people are being accused of being conspiracy theorist.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Just put them on ignore. This is a stupid alert.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This is a bit over the top, especially since it was only a few posts in before they decided to pop-off and start accusing others of lying.
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: the poster clearly has some race issues to deal with, it should be hidden and the poster reviewed.

[Journeyman]

34. "The Adoration of the Magi" has included depictions of a black King since the 1500s. . .

and before.

Albrecht Durer (1504):



Hieronymus Bosch (1510):



Peter Paul Rubens (1634):

?w=620&h=800

And here's a site with 25 versions of "The Adoration of the Magi," each depicting a black King:

http://www.artbible.info/art/verses/36.html

And here's an article authored by Henry Louis Gates (of "beer with Obama" fame) on the subject of "The Image of the Black in Western Art." Here's a pertinent paragraph:

In the 1240s, St. Maurice, a third-century martyr, appears for the first time as a black saint in a magnificent marble figure in Magdeburg Cathedral in Germany. Over the next two centuries, the best artists in the region will continue to depict St. Maurice as a black saint. In the early 15th century, beginning also in Germany, artists began depicting one of the three Magi bearing gifts for the baby Jesus as a dignified and splendidly dressed black monarch. He presents myrrh to the Christ Child, representing the hoped-for conversion of the whole of black Africa by the Christian religion.

The rest of your education, of course, is now your concern. Same as your continued ignorance, should you choose that path.

[Liberal_in_LA]

35. Excellent depictions in paintings. I guess manufacturers of nativity sets less likely

To portray the king accurately

[Journeyman]

36. Even here, we don't know for certain if one of the Magi was black or not . . .

these are merely representations consistent with a historical viewpoint prevalent at the time of the artwork's creation.

Matthew, the only one of the gospels to mention them, neither numbers nor names them, and says but that they "came from the East." The three gifts led to the assumption of three Kings. From there it becomes very problematic as to how many and from where. A black King apparently was only depicted starting in the 1500s. So they can, authentically, be depicted in whatever way an artist ascribes.

As with any work of art, however, what people place in their homes will be consistent (in most cases) with how they view the story. Those open to a multi-ethnic nativity will seek such a display. Those who need a blue-eyed babe with golden locks will find what they desire. Looking now at my wife's set, Lenox fine china, it's impossible for me to tell what the Magi's backgrounds may be -- but that's the nature of a china figurine, especially in a set where the only color is in the jewels that adorn each piece. No reflection on my wife's attitude or belief, other than she liked that particular set.

The Magi in that set can be seen here:

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Mabc29af6a0febd309a197656449217fao0&pid=15.1

[Retrograde]

90. The diversity of the magi is symbolic

Last edited Mon Dec 28, 2015, 01:23 PM - Edit history (1)

the Feast of the Epiphany symbolizes Christ's being made known to the whole world - or at least the whole world as Christians knew it back then - so the magi represent Africa, Asia and Europe. I've seen depictions with Black Magi as far back as the the 1400s. Except in Medici Florence, where Lorenzo the Magnificent had himself painted as one of the Magi, taking over the role of the African: jarring for one raised in a traditional Catholic style.

Anyway, no one knows where they were from , how many there were, and whether or not they existed in the first place.

[Hekate]

111. From my earliest memories (1950s) one of the Magi was always black.I figured it was a representation

...of wisdom and learning being from all over the Earth, the spread of Christianity all over the Earth, and that sort of thing. I've often thought that in the depictions (including Nativity displays for home and church) one was European/very white, one was brown/Middle Eastern, and there was the African king.

Their names were alleged to be Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior.

In the legend, the Magi came from Persia, a center of mysticism. In documented history (1st - 3rd centuries AD), the early Desert Fathers were located in Northern Africa, so there's another African connection.

Thanks for the gorgeous paintings -- I remember them and they are part of my imagery for who the Wise Men were supposed to be.

[stonecutter357]

47. you seem desperate!

[trillion]

9. My set came from the 2000's. I think it's about 7 or 8 years old.

[akbacchus_BC]

11. Yeah right!

[trillion]

16. You seem to be quite a piece of work. And an ill informed one.

google Christmas nativity set and select the pictures. Look at them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. "A black person unless it's an animal"? Rethink that phrase

[akbacchus_BC]

29. You are trying your best to be obtuse as you know what I mean!

Jesus as I know going to Sunday School was white! There is no black person in the nativity set, even the Majis were white.
Am am not here to argue about the nativity set, it is what it is!

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. I YOUR nativity set maybe. Trillion has seen sets with a black king, so have I

[LiberalElite]

116. So have I eom

[Blue_In_AK]

37. When I was a kid back in the Dark Ages,

our Nativity scene had a black king. I remember it well. I think that I was taught his name was Melchior.

[Ichingcarpenter]

42. I think my mother's set had a black magi if I remember right

My family never got a Nativity set for our Christmas decorations
we had the Santa theme going for my kids.

[Blue_In_AK]

39. FYI

On Mon Dec 28, 2015, 01:28 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

You are trying your best to be obtuse as you know what I mean!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7478993

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

What the SHIT is with this virulent racist crap in my DU?

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Dec 28, 2015, 01:43 AM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I'm going to vote to leave this here just for the shock value. Wow. For what it's worth, our Nativity scene had a black king when I was a kid, and I do remember that, although it was back in the Dark Ages.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Rude and aggressive. And seems to have a vested interest in no one from the Nativity being black- though in many traditions, Balthazar was black. Hide.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Jesus was most assuredly brown. There was no sunblock on sale in Galilee, or Bethlehem, and umbrellas were not in fashion. He was of Semitic heritage so his coloring was likely akin to that of Yasser Arafat or members of the Saudi Royal Family, not that Caviezel guy that played him in the movie. People wore robes and took long naps in the heat of the day to try to avoid the sun, but even at that, they got more than their share and it showed in their skin tone. At least one of the Three Kings was African, as well. All that notwithstanding, this is not the first time I have seen inappropriate comments from this poster, and almost always in the wee small hours of the morning. It's unfortunate if there's an issue causing this behavior, but I still must vote to hide.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Not sure what may be going on with this poster, but derailing this thread was uncalled for, especially cause they're wrong. Every Nativity Scene I ever saw as a child included the black king, Balthazar, and if she would simply google "vintage nativity sets", she could find that out for herself. No need to call everyone else here obtuse, at all.


And according to Wikipedia, the Magi have traditionally been named:

Melchior (/ˈmɛlkiˌɔr/;[13] also Melichior[14]), a Persian scholar;
Caspar (/ˈkæspər/ or /ˈkæspɑr/;[15] also Gaspar, Jaspar, Jaspas, Gathaspa,[14][16] and other variations), an Indian scholar;
Balthazar (/ˈbælθəˌzɑr/ or /bælˈθæzər/;[17] also Balthasar, Balthassar, and Bithisarea[14]), a Babylonian scholar.

I would guess all three of those would be dark-complected.

[davidpdx]

53. That person got three hides in one thread, had that one been 4-3 it would have been four hides

It lends new meaning to quit while your ahead.

[Dems to Win]

59. Now on timeout for a couple of months

Very odd, as if she wanted to be sent away for awhile. Maybe she wanted to take a break from posting, but can't make herself stop, so she got temporarily banned on purpose.

[pintobean]

62. Strange

Really makes one wonder.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027177963#post18

[Dr Hobbitstein]

72. Wow. She's gone full blown racist...

Don't remember her talking like that at ALL until these two threads.

[PowerToThePeople]

94. It is no fun for them

Unless they out themselves at some point.

Like thumbing their nose that we let them enjoy a long stay.

[joshcryer]

86. Yikes.

And here I was kidding about the egg nog.

[Liberal_in_LA]

100. Wow!

[GummyBearz]

85. Very odd

This thread was a very odd read.... huh. I could see this going down if a friend of mine found my account logged in and decided to play a joke and try to get me banned.

Or maybe as other suggested, this individual had just a lil too much holiday punch and some free time.

[Liberal_in_LA]

102. Six hides in total recently

[davidpdx]

126. Just saw the sixth one

I didn't think that one was very bad. Hiding that one is piling on a bit. The person already had 5 and is on an extended vacation. The stuff further in on the thread was much worse. I personally would have voted to not hide that one. I'm not defending the other posts however (I was on a jury for one of the four from the 28th and voted to hide that one).

[Codeine]

64. Drunk posting sprees seem to be that person's stock in trade.

Did something similar a week or two ago and copped a couple hides as well. And who can forget her infamous "slanty eyes" rant back in August or thereabouts?

Should have been banhammered long ago.

[JackInGreen]

68. It was my alert

and I was shocked that it got left, even if one was to call attention to it. I'm all too aware of my privilage as a whiteboy, that shit has gotta go. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[CajunBlazer]

99. It looks like it was late at night - She could have been drunk...

...and normally well hidden prejudices came to the surface. How knows?

[davidpdx]

125. The poster in #64 said that, not me.

[JackInGreen]

49. I'm sorry

I think I've agreed with you sometime before, but this is the most racist bigoted extreme religious purity right shit I've ever read on DU. You die on this hill if you want to, I'm afraid it'll only be remembered as 'idiot screams at negros in their nativity'.

[stonecutter357]

50. Jesus as I know going to Sunday School was white? LOL

[AwakeAtLast]

73. That's the one that really got me, too

WTF?

Considering all the other posts, this one was the cherry on top !

Joining you.....

[tazkcmo]

82. You should be banned. n/t

[LiberalElite]

115. You just spent most of the thread arguing

about nativity sets, so do you really know what you're here for?

[yardwork]

120. This is incredibly offensive.

Jesus was definitely not white. I don't care what your Sunday School teacher told you. Google photos of present day Palestinians. They're probably whiter than Jesus was.

[tblue37]

123. Wow. This sounds like Meghan Kelley's claim that both Jesus and

Santa Claus are white.

Jesus, if he existed, was a typical Mideastern man of his time. He would have looked a lot like a typical man from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Egypt--in other words, like the sort if people some "Christians" get kicked off of planes for looking like their idea of what a terrorist would look like.

As for the modern version of Santa Claus--he is no more real than Donald Duck.

[trillion]

26. ALL you have to do is google "Christmas nativity set" and select images

I've done it for you.

https://www.google.com/search?q=nativity+sets&biw=1384&bih=736&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjW3ZSelv7JAhUBzmMKHa_uAvYQ_AUIBygC

[Sherman A1]

33. I remember

we had one in the nativity set my Mom put up each year. I haven't put one up myself (or looked at them in the stores), so I haven't noticed, but this is hardly a surprise to me.

[Dr. Xavier]

13. I had a suspicion but

didn't tell anyone. My wife hates it when I point out white racism, she thinks I'm racist against whites, I tell her, 'I wasn't until I met your family.'

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. Wow. This thread went off the rails in record time

[bananas]

38. The nativity set I bought last month has a black king.

I just checked.

[trillion]

127. Where do you get it? I want my black king back!

[Skittles]

41. hey trillion, I forgot to ask

did you kick your brother's racist ass? Seriously.

[trillion]

56. He's my little brother and he is drinking racist Tea Party and Trump Kool-aide. There is no

reasoning with him. My family was always Dem so this is all new to me. He only started this crap that I've known about since trump started running. We watched the last 2 presidential elections together and both times opened champaigne and toasted when Obama won. So I don't know what happened there. That Trump is appealing to historic Dems has me very worried. I think he's appealing to undercover racists on both sides of the aisle.

[Skittles]

105. my sympathy to you

Trump most certainly is giving cowards the opportunity showcase their racism - it is indeed sickening

[OldRedneck]

43. It's all a myth anyway.

[DonCoquixote]

44. two side to this

One the one hand, some of the ways the "black King" was depicted were outright RACIST. We are talking the sort of depictions that were outright nasty. Those should not be missed:

However:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi

if we were to depict them as they were according to legend:

Melchior (/ˈmɛlkiˌɔr/;[13] also Melichior[14]), a Persian scholar;
Caspar (/ˈkæspər/ or /ˈkæspɑr/;[15] also Gaspar, Jaspar, Jaspas, Gathaspa,[14][16] and other variations), an Indian scholar;
Balthazar (/ˈbælθəˌzɑr/ or /bælˈθæzər/;[17] also Balthasar, Balthassar, and Bithisarea[14]), a Babylonian scholar.

So we have an Iranian, an Iraqi, and an Indian. The chances of any of these folk being blue-eyed whites is quite unlikely, though none of them are African. My point is that I would not want these folk "whitewashed" either, as they would not be.

[Drahthaardogs]

92. My mom is Italian and has a very old set from Napoli, where they orginated

Balthazaar is a black king in her set. I just bought a set from Costco last year. I am happy to say that King Blathazaar sits atop a fine camel and is a bearded black man in my set.

[trillion]

128. I will check Costco, thank you!

[tecelote]

45. I had not noticed but it's a good point to bring up.

Ours used to have a black king and I would think some company would be smart to add him back.

As far as I'm concerned, Jesus can be a black baby in the set and it wouldn't matter. He was Middle Eastern and would probably face the same trouble finding a place to sleep today as he did then. We haven't improved much.

Thanks for posting trillion.

[Amimnoch]

48. Not your OP in particular, but this has got to be one of the craziest threads

I've read in some time!

Personally, being Athiest and all that, my decorations go more around Santa (including a Yoda in a Santa hat), so I hadn't really noticed that.

I did look across the street at my neighbors nativity scene in his yard, and it has the black king in it. I believe he purchased it this season.

[LiberalElite]

55. Looking at the times of these posts -

I hope everyone's getting some sleep now.

[stonecutter357]

58. NOPE !! NOT ME !!!

chronic back pain

[trillion]

63. Should be as I work in a few hours. No I haven't been to bed yet. And I don't even drink caffeine.

[Liberal_in_LA]

98. Have a great day

[JackInGreen]

70. I work nights

no sleep, just...fuming at that BS.

[LiberalElite]

114. I work days -

I can't believe this thread. That poster has issues! I recall seeing a black king in nativity sets but I haven't paid attention to them in many years. I wonder when they changed it. I also wonder if it was just (and this is not to excuse it) cheaper to make the figures all the same (albeit erroneous) skin color.

[handmade34]

60. not only should there be a Black king but...

the baby Jesus should be a baby of color (only saw one Nativity this season with a family of color )

[Vinca]

65. Exactly. Why are the overwhelming images of Jesus a handsome, strawberry blond man?

You'd think he was born in a chalet in the Alps.

[AwakeAtLast]

75. LOL!!

The image that brought to my mind -

Baby Jesus on skis!

[sarge43]

83. As Voltaire pointed out, we create our gods in our own image or an idealized image.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35120965

Interesting read.

[alphafemale]

87. Or surfing on South Beach.

Surfing without a board no less.

He is Jesus, after all.

[AwakeAtLast]

74. I totally agree with you

But unfortunately it's all about making $$$.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. The set I display is made of olive wood and the figures are all the same color, camels, kings and

cows. I brought this back from Bethlehem many years ago. My family's childhood set certainly has a black Magi. I have not shopped for one since the 1970's but these days one can shop the world from home...
http://www.amazon.com/Heartland-poly-resin-N0145-Poly-resin-Nativity/dp/B000UIEYP4/ref=pd_sim_201_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41fja-ida8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0NGTTVYNY8W62BK73B9G

It's also worth noting that the story in Bible and Koran does not name nor number the 'kings' and so all of that is not in the source myth. This means that as you travel the world you see variations on the nature of the 'kings' and even Mary and Joseph, the look of the stable, all of these things have been made up over time and reflect the environment of the creators as well as the story they drew from. The scene set in Ethiopia is not the same as the style used in Greece, both are different from the Mexican.

Mexico:
https://www.google.com/search?q=mexican+nativity+scene&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRrOCl0P7JAhVU52MKHaCMDQEQ_AUICCgC&biw=1413&bih=675#tbm=isch&q=nacimiento+mexicano

Polish:
https://www.google.com/search?q=mexican+nativity+scene&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRrOCl0P7JAhVU52MKHaCMDQEQ_AUICCgC&biw=1413&bih=675#tbm=isch&q=polish+nativity+sets

Coptic (probably the first)
https://www.google.com/search?q=mexican+nativity+scene&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRrOCl0P7JAhVU52MKHaCMDQEQ_AUICCgC&biw=1413&bih=675#tbm=isch&q=coptic+nativity

[Scuba]

67. I saw a black Santa yesterday, here in northeast Wisconsin. Does that count?

[LanternWaste]

71. I presume you missed the three in south Dallas during your alleged observations.

I presume you missed the three I saw in south Dallas during your alleged observations.

By the way... welcome back!

[Bluenorthwest]

80. Journey Of The Magi by T. S. Eliot

A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sore-footed,
refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the
terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.

Then the camel men cursing and
grumbling
And running away, and wanting their
liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the
lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns
unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high
prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all
night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears,
saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a
temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of
vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill
beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped in
away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with
vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for
pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no imformation, and so
we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment
too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say)
satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I
remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth,
certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had
seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different;
this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like
Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these
Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old
dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their
gods.
I should be glad of another death.

[Hekate]

108. Gives me chills all over.

I've loved T.S. Eliot forever.

[alphafemale]

84. Haven't had the set out in a few years but mine is of children

putting on a pageant.

The little shepherd boys are in jeans and sneakers and it was irresistibly cute to me.

I don't buy into the myth at all but this seemed fine.

And a few races were available but I chose the one with African American .

I don't know why.

Fond memories of that old Walton's Christmas special? Perhaps.

"Hey, Mary. What are you going that pretty little baby?"

[femmocrat]

88. There are some on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xblack+magi+nativity.TRS0&_nkw=black+magi+nativity&_sacat=11700

There are also a lot on Google Shopping. I just googled "Melchior figure".

If you are artistic, you can maybe paint one of the white ones? I know it is hard to find the right one to match your set.

[kpete]

89. I still

rock a "black king" in my Refugee Manger Scene

peace,
kp

[whatthehey]

91. These are the guys who taught Jesus and Biff Kung Fu, right?

Yep there was a black one.

[Metatron]

112. Nice reference!

One of my favorite books.

[whatthehey]

130. Knew somebody would get it. His best IMO.

[craigmatic]

93. That's ok Jesus was probably black.

[catnhatnh]

95. I checked with the final arbiter of all things...

Amazon! Here's the link to their best-selling 100 "Nativity" items:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Home-Kitchen-Nativity-Sets-Figures/zgbs/home-garden/702628011

A quick check indicates that Trillion-you are NOT the father-whoops-I mean most complete nativity sets still have a black king...

[Enrique]

96. is that how racism works in America?

racists throw out their brothers' figurines, and manufacturers ethnically cleanse manger scenes?

[Nye Bevan]

97. Here's the first one that comes up when I search for Nativity Set on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013FDVB24?keywords=nativity%20set&psc=1&qid=1451322722&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1-spons

[Phentex]

101. I did a search, too, and was shocked at how many

versions there are... even a rubber duck nativity?

But yes, there are many versions with a black king.

[melman]

107. It couldn't be that the OP just didn't find what they were looking for

It has to be that America is too racist.

[trillion]

129. I think, hope that all of you will remember this thread next year and look in the stores.

I looked in quite a few. Someone on this thread said they bought one from Costco that had a black king and I plan on going there tomorrow to see if I can still get the set.

[itcfish]

103. Well Your Brother

would have a fit because this year in Spain, they replaced the 3 Wise men with 3 Wise WOMEN and yes one of the women is Black! LOL I am loving it.

Oh you should get your brother one of these traditional figures from Barcelona and place it in his nativity scene.

http://www.barcelonayellow.com/barcelona-christmas-articles/537-caganer-christmas-traditions

[eridani]

122. If the Three Wise Men had been Three Wise Women--

--they would have stopped and asked for directions, gotten there on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned up and put down fresh straw, brought practical gifts and made a casserole.

[countryjake]

124. + 1,000,000

Ain't that the truth!

[Heeeeers Johnny]

104. I thought Robb Stark was "King of the North"?

[img][/img]

[pintobean]

106. Does that mean checkmate?

Jk. No, I went to Amazon and they have sets available with the black king.

[LiberalElite]

110. I haven't paid attention to

nativity sets for many years. After your post, I decided to look at the small one in our apt. bldg. lobby. Everyone's Caucasian. I wonder how long this has been going on?

[Egnever]

118. No because it is nonsense

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nativity+scene&tbm=shop&spd=9173793159374731145

The vast majority of them for sale there have the black king.