I365: Who are the Black Hebrews who marched through Brooklyn chanting “We are the real Jews”?

Jewish mosaic of the 5th century (Jim Haberman)

While most people seem to understand that many of the descendants of Judah are in the nation currently called Israel, various ones these days deny that. But those that deny it are wrong. They often seem to have an anti-Semitic and/or a racial agenda.

Israel365 News posted the following:

Who are the Black Hebrews who marched through Brooklyn chanting “We are the real Jews”?

November 27, 2022

Hundreds of people identifying as Black Hebrew Israelites gathered in Brooklyn last week. Videos disseminated through social media show the participants marching in purple robes and chanting slogans such as “we are the real Jews” and “Hey Jacob, it is time to wake up.”

In the past few years, the movement has increasingly come under the spotlight, both because several celebrities have publicly associated themselves with its ideology and because its followers have been responsible for several acts of antisemitic violence. …

Today the movement includes churches and institutions that adhere to this ideology, some of which go as far as adopting at least some Jewish laws and practices, as well as individuals who identify as Black Hebrew Israelites after coming in contact with its beliefs on the internet.

The “fringe” element

According to the GWU report, while “most BHIs view white Jews as legitimately Jewish; the BHI fringe believes that they are “Edomites” the descendants of the Biblical figure Esau, thus placing them outside of the fold of the Biblical Israelites, who are the descendants of Esau’s brother Jacob) and/or “the synagogue of Satan” (referencing Revelation 3:9).”

The report adds that “the most publicly visible aspects of the BHI movement today are arguably representative of this fringe,” noting that their public demonstrations often include antisemitic statements and Holocaust denial.

Followers of the Black Hebrew Israelites movement have been responsible for several antisemite attacks, including a shooting in a kosher supermarket in New Jersey in 2019 where four people were killed. https://www.israel365news.com/362661/who-are-the-black-hebrews-who-marched-through-brooklyn-chanting-we-are-the-real-jews/

Yes, the “fringe Black Israelites” are wrong and violent.

‘Black Israelite’ groups (and some others) have falsely asserted that the ancient Jews were mainly black Africans. Some groups have falsely asserted that the majority in the nation of Israel are not Jews based on various misunderstandings of scripture and/or migration histories.

Specifically, many claim that the real Jews, those that they claim are from the Tribe of Judah are “American Negroes” (Amanfo A. Making History: The Sephardi Jewish Orphans of Sao-Tome and the African -American Appropriation of their Story the African -American Appropriation of their Story Dissertation, Florida International University, March 26, 2019)—and that other Jews are not really Jews—while some others claim they are mainly blacks in various parts of Africa. That is not the case from many reasons.

Yet, this does not mean that there are no black Israelites or black Jews. Because of a mixed multitude joining the Israelites when they left Egypt (Exodus 12:38), plus the fact that some Jews did move into parts of Africa and interbred, there are some black Jews. There are also some black Israelites from the other tribes for the same reason.

However, the majority of modern Israelites and Jews do not appear to be of the Negroid/African race nor were the original Israelites or Jews.

Whether considered fringe or not, the ‘Black Israelites’ are clearly wrong about Judah being mainly American Negroes as they claim. Notice also their claimed identities of the 12 tribes of Israel:

Poster outlining the Black Hebrew Israelite identification of the Twelve Tribes of Israel with modern peoples of color
(Streetphotographernyctlv)

Note that they also claim that Puerto Rico is Ephraim, but Puerto Rico really is not a “multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19b) as Ephraim was prophesied to be (which is why the United Kingdom best fits for Ephraim). Nor is Puerto Rico “greater” (Genesis 48:19c) than Cuba, which it would have to be if Cuba was Manasseh as the Black Hebrew Israelites assert (the USA best fits the prophecies for Manasseh–see also the free online book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?).

I do not believe that most of those in the nation of Israel who consider themselves to be Jews did not descend from Jacob/Israel like certain antisemitic and ‘Black Israelite’ writers claim.

Furthermore, it can be clearly proven that the ancient Jews were not black. Because some make that claim, I also located some photos of 1st century A.D. coins–the century Jesus was executed in. After General Titus conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Emperor Vespasian issued coins–the back side of which shows conquered Jews:

Titus on left, Jewish man on bottom right (CNG coins)

Vespasian on left, captured Jewish soldiers on right, 71 A.D. (CNG coins)

Notice the the Jews were not African (which is clear from the hair of the man on the first coin as well as the hair of the man to the left of the second coin). The second coin inscription in Latin Ivdea means Judea. These coins are clear evidence that the Jews of the first century–like Jesus–were not black Africans.

If most Jews of Jesus’ time were black, the coins would have been expected to portray that–but they do not. These are absolute proof.

For more information, read Were the Ancient Tribes of Israel Black? Was Jesus Black? and/or watch Were Ancient Hebrews Black? What About Jesus?

As far as the descendants of the tribes of Israel go, check out our free online book:

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Were the Ancient Tribes of Israel Black? Was Jesus Black? Some claim this is so. But what do the Bible and ancient artifacts show? Here is a link to a related sermon video: Were Ancient Hebrews Black? What About Jesus?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA, Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications, 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes, Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty, and Gentile European Beast.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does? Watch also Mystery of Race.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.
Ten clues tying Belgium and Luxembourg with the tribe of Asher Who did some in Belgium and Luxembourg descend from?
Ten clues tying Zebulun with the Dutch Who did some in the Netherlands descend from?
Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Naphtali – Sweden Do the Swedes have any ties to the biblical tribe of Naphtali? Some think so
‘Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Dan – the Irish’ Not part of the ‘144,000’ Could the Irish and Danes have descent from the tribe of Dan?
Could Switzerland by descended from Gad? Is it really prepared for what is prophecied? This article has clues.