Jesus Is My Homeboy

Jesus and religion continue to pop up through modern art and style. From the small WWJD bracelets that were all the rage in the 1990’s, to the crosses on graphics of t-shirts at The Buckle, connotations back to Jesus and Christianity always make a powerful statement. This statement was made strongly and worn by celebrities everywhere with the “Jesus Is My Homeboy” shirts. Although these shirts may seem like they are making a mockery of the relationship one has with Jesus, the message created by Van Zan Frater actually tells of the power of Christianity and the possibility that Jesus really can make a difference in everyday life.

“Jesus Is My Homeboy” t-shirts broke onto the scene in 2004. The shirts began being sold in Urban Outfitters; however, they are sold in many different stores today. They can also be bought online through the shirt’s official website. Not only can one buy t-shirts with this saying screen printed on them, but a customer can also buy “Jesus Is My Homeboy” bags, aprons, and coffee mugs. Before even beginning my research into what the Jesus Is My Homeboy shirts really mean, I had to lay aside my original connotations regarding the shirts. Since these types of shirts were often worn by celebrities and sold at places like Journey’s and Urban Outfitters, I initially thought they were downplaying the importance of Jesus in many Christians’ lives. This turned out to be quite the opposite.

The story of how these shirts began to rise through the ranks of popularity derives from one man who had an unfortunate run-in with a gang in the 1980’s. According to the official website of “Jesus Is My Homeboy”, Van Zan Frater had recently moved from Texas to Los Angeles. One night, when Frater was driving in Los Angeles, he needed to use a pay phone. Since this was before the days of cell phones, Frater had to pull over at a liquor store. As he was using the pay phone, a group of boys began hassling him. Van Zan Frater knew that he was dealing with some sort of street gang, and he also realized that these boys were very young. One of the younger boys hit him and put a gun to his head. The boy cocked the trigger and looked around for approval from the rest of the boys in the gang. Van Zan Frater knew he had to do something, so he simply said, “Jesus is my homeboy and don’t you know that Jesus is your homeboy too,”. The boy took the gun away from Frater’s head. The entire group felt the power of what he had said, and understood the message.

Van Zan Frater knew what had saved his life that night, so he wanted to spread the message through a silkscreen print on t-shirts. The print was made, however, it was lost due to the Los Angeles riots in 1994. Years later, the silk screen was found by men who thought it would be a great idea to make t-shirts out of the saying, and they were distributed all around the country. Van Zan Frater had no idea that the production of his image had actually become real life until several years after he had intended. In fact, he maybe would have never even known if it were not for the front page of People Magazine. The image and saying was created by one small moment, however, it has made an impact on many different people. Van Zan Frater simply made the image to depict the idea that Jesus was for everyone.

A very important aspect of the image that has been replicated so many times onto t-shirts and hats is the fact that it is not signified by a certain race. It is not just the stereotypical European-looking Jesus that we have seen so many times in so many different pieces of art. It has no racial specific traits. Van Zan Frater did this specifically to show that Jesus can be there for everyone, no matter his or her race, ethnicity, or background. Jesus can be someone’s “homeboy” who grew up in the ghetto or for someone who grew up in a white-collar family in the suburbs. It does not matter, because the power of Jesus is just the same.

Through looking at the Jesus Is My Homeboy image and the body language that is represented, Jesus looks like a very kind and comforting person. One can see this by his arms being outstretched in a sort of “come here” way. Frater really wanted people to get that feeling and for them to embrace Jesus. Through embracing Jesus, Frater hopes that random acts of gang violence can be avoided. Van Zan Frater began the Jesus Is My Homeboy Foundation in 2007. This foundation benefits from the sale of the saying. A portion of each sale goes to the foundation that helps people who are affected by gang violence. He is also currently writing a book to help victims of these types of crime.

My original connotation of what “Jesus is My Homeboy” signified was definitely not the case. The saying was not really looking for the popularity of people like Ashton Kutcher or Jessica Simpson, it was simply looking for a way to express the love and potential for Jesus in everyone’s lives. I feel like this story is extremely powerful. The way that Jesus is portrayed in the shirts is very important because it has gone into the popular world and popular style. No longer are the days that one’s expression of religion is looked at negatively or with a certain stereotype. Jesus has the possibility to be everywhere and anyone’s “homeboy”.