I didn't even know this show existed until a few weeks ago...which, as fate would have it, was during the early days following George Floyd's death at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. It showed up on Hulu, and I gave it a shot based on nothing at all; no info, no recommendation, nothin'. Just a whim.
And now, three weeks later it's just about my favorite TV show. In the interest of full disclosure,it's worth pointing out that I'm a pasty-white, irritable mid-20th century caucasian. Not a MAGA angry white guy, but I love George Jones, Lawrence of Arabia, and looking down on young people (they are just awful). You know: your basic complacent oppressor. Not The Man, exactly, but close enough...
So, I checked out "Black Jesus" with no expectations, I'm just flippin' through the streaming channels looking for something to distract me from my feelings of diminished worth and deepening angst, not expecting anything. I was not prepared.
What I discovered was a show that combined what I think might be the
most naturalistic portrayal of black vernacular culture that's ever been on television, along with biting wit, social criticism and liberal doses of the philosophy of Jesus, AKA the light of this world. And a lot of weed.
Slink Johnson is brilliant as Jesus. I realize now that I've seen him in minor roles in some not-very-good movies, but he is just fantastic in this. I'm pretty much an atheist, but he makes me want to believe in a a benevolent and loving savior for mankind who smokes a lot of weed.
