Black Madonnas



The Black Madonna of
Czestochowa



Interfaith_Black_Madonna is an informative website that lists several Black Madonnas I wasn't aware of. The most famous Black Madonna is probably The Black Madonna of Czestochowa--Queen of Poland. 





My personal favorite Black Madonna is Nuestra Sra. de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity), the Patron and Queen of Cuba, fondly known as "Cachita," and recognized as La Virgen Mambisa (the Revolutionary Virgin). 

La Virgen de la Caridad
del Cobre

The Original image of  Our Lady of Charity of Cobre resides in her sanctuary, Our Lady of Cobre, which is 12 miles northwest of Santiago, Cuba.  You'll find lots of portraits of this little Virgin where she is portrayed as white skinned, but she is not.  She is a mulatto or black image. 

I can't visit her shrine in Cuba, so I visit her at La Ermita de la Caridad, her shrine in Miami, Florida.  The image of La Caridad at this Miami shrine is not the original, but rather, a statue that was secretly smuggled out of Cuba to Miami.  La Ermita also features an amazing mural executed by Teok Carrasco that depicts Cuba's history, as well as the Virgin of La Caridad.

I am presently reading a book called Longing for Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna by China Galland.  It's very interesting, and you can read all about it via the link I've provided.

There's a Madonna known as Madre de los Desaparecidos (Our Lady of the Disappeared).  This is what she looks like.  This Madonna hails from El Salvador.  People beseeched her for help and protection during the terrible late 1970s-early 80s when the Death Squads roamed the streets and took people away, never to be seen again.  See the white handprint on the Blessed Mother's poster?  It was a sign from the Death Squads.  A soldier would dip his hand in white paint and press it against a house's wall or door.  It was a sign to the house's inhabitants to leave.  If they didn't leave, the Death Squads would return and "disappear them."  I don't know if the Madre de los Desaparecidos is considered a Black Madonna, but she's certainly a "morena" (brown).  I think her face is remarkably similar to that of Our Lady of Czestochowa.  I love author China Galland's comments about the Virgin Mary.  She says that the Virgin is always portrayed as an obedient, kind, submissive woman, but she, the author, sees Mary as strong, powerful, and willing to fight for her people.  I think that's the way the Madonna is:  Powerful, strong, courageous, with a "don't mess with me attitude."

If you have visited a place with a Black Madonna, or have information about them, please let me hear from you!