.jpg)
When we look at how history is taught in America, it makes sense to ask this question. What is The Origin of Black People? Generally, Black History in America is seen as separate from American History, sometimes even separate from world history in our schools. So why are we surprised when some parents and politicians use this scenario to claim that teaching Black History is contrary to American values? And that teaching Black History is against white people or other nationalities? This is the reality we are living in today. In my opinion, teaching Black History as a separate subject should be for specialization mainly in colleges and universities.
When history is first introduced to children it must include the histories of all people in that nation as one comprehensive subject. Let me repeat that: When history is first introduced to children in schools it must include the histories of all people (all ethnicities, all nationalities) in that nation as one comprehensive subject. And it must be grounded in truth - the good history, the bad history, and the ugly history. Why am I saying this? Because we all live in one nation, one country. It’s simple logic. If Black history is
Other questions arise because to this thinking. Are Black people real Americans? What about the original Americans? What about the so-called Native Americans? All this goes to a question of origins. And for me, this goes directly to the question of authority and truth about real history and real origins.
There are some events in American history that we mislabel primarily as Black History. LISTEN TO THIS – the Civil Rights movement is American History; Jim Crow is American History; Chattel Slavery is American History; Reconstruction is American History; Black Panther Movement is American History; Anti-Slavery Abolition Movement is American History; Black Lives Matter is American History. Why? Because all these events occurred in America – Past and Present! Remember I am dealing with the origins of Black people.
Education, especially history is central to any people who need to know their origin. A look at world history is relevant to understand where we are today.
It’s well known that the first global world power was in Africa, specifically Egypt. Their domination lasted about 2,500 years. And they were Africans. Other world powers followed Egypt were Assyria (Mesopotamia), Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece then Rome. Egypt remains the longest ruling world power in human history. And they were Africans.
Now Greece was the first European world power in the history of humanity.
In 323 BC the Greek military leader, Alexander the Great, achieved an important victory over the Meado-Persian empire. This event marked the first time a European power gained world dominance in human history. The next world power was the Roman Empire. Each succeeding empire learned from the previous power. Both Greek and Roman cultures learned and coveted many achievements of Egyptian (African) people, some without acknowledgement. Some tried to make Egypt, a non-African nation while others Europeanized Egyptian achievements. By now, we know that the Egyptian Theorem was renamed Pythagoras’s theorem by the Greeks. This theorem was/and still is the foundation in building construction. However, to coin a phrase, the Greeks practiced “Stolen Legacy” (ref. the book by George G. M. James)
Western culture, including American culture, is based on Greek and Roman philosophy. These two cultures took a lot from Egyptian (African) culture, much without acknowledgement. Unfortunately, it took until the discipline of African or Black Studies began to make its way into our schools and educational institutions that the truth of the origin and contribution of Black people became known in common society. Black history had to correct much of the false and incomplete notions of the origin and history of Black peoples in America, Africa, and the world. This miseducation caused many to conclude that Black people made little contribution to the world and thus their origin was suspect. These facts also influenced much of the Christian church historically and even today. Thanks be to God that many historians have debunked these false, negative concepts of Black people, their origin and history.
So, what about the origin of Black people? First, we have the same origin and roots as every other human being on this planet. All humans came from Adam and Eve as clearly outlined in the Bible, in the scriptures. Humans did not come from apes or monkeys as taught in our schools and universities. This is a falsehood perpetuated by so-called scientists and people of reason.
Now I know that there are those who are against the Bible, and call it outdated fables, yet they accept the “big bang theory” that the earth was created from nothing!! And that all human beings came from apes! Incredible! but that’s another topic - the origin of the earth.
So, all humans came from Adam and Eve, according to the scriptures. To be even more definitive we all came from the three sons of Noah, who lived about 1,100 years after Adam.
Let’s look at the book of Genesis. In Genesis 10:1 (ESV) "These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood"
Note the names of Noah’s sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. In the Bible, names have meanings that explain the person and his/her nationality and origin. These names give clues to a person’s ancestor · forefather · forebear · parent · begetter · primogenitor · procreator ·
These are the three sons of Noah from whom all people descended. So technically, one third of the planet are brothers and sisters and the other two—thirds are your cousins (starting 5,000 years ago). So, what's all this fight, prejudice and racism about among people?
A study of the names of the descendants of these three sons is a guide to their origin. Middle eastern/ Asian peoples came from Shem. African (Black) people came from Ham and Caucasian white people came from Japheth.
To follow the origin of Black people, we go to Genesis 10: 6 which says, “The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan”. Let me repeat -
“The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan”
Now the meaning of these names is very revealing. All you have to find these words in any good Bible dictionary which define the root of words. This discipline is called Etymology, the study of the root or source meaning of words. Cush means Ethiopia. So, Cush was the progenitor of Ethiopia, the African nation.
According to Strong’s Bible dictionary Cush means black. Strong’s dictionary also says that “Cush is the son of Ham and grandson of Noah and the progenitor of the southernmost peoples located in Africa”
Friends this is Bible, we are presenting what the scriptures says about the origin of Black people. Everywhere you see Cush, or Cushite in the Bible you are talking about one root of Black people.
Next Mizriam, the next son of Ham. Mizriam means Egypt, another African people. Bible dictionary Egypt = "land of the Copts" the root of the word Coptic. The definition continues “a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”
Remember this is before to beginning of the Egyptian Dynasties.
Look and the next son of Ham, Phut. Phut means Libya, a nation, and people of northern Africa, most likely Libyans.
Look and the next son of Ham, Canaan. He was the fourth son of Ham and the progenitor (ancestor) of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine
So quite clearly, according to the scriptures, Black people have their origin in the Bible. Also, the Bible identifies many leaders and prominent persons who were Black and the descendent of Ham, through one of his four sons. For example, the Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses, had black blood in him. Specifically, remember Joseph, Jacob’s 11th son who became prime minister of Egypt, second in command to the Pharaoh? Read Genesis chapter 41. Joseph married a Black woman of Egypt, Asenath
who had two sons - Manasseh, and Ephraim. The general Joshua in the sixth book of the Bible is from the bloodline of Ephraim. The Bible identified other people who were Black or had black bloodline. These include Rahab, who helped the Israel spies on their reconnaissance mission before the fall of Jericho; Bathsheba, King Solomon’s mother, had direct genealogy back to Ham via Heth (Hittite) see Genesis 10:15. King David and King Solomon both had black bloodline in their genes. The prophet Zephaniah was a Cushite. There are many examples in the scriptures.
You see, God already knew that people in the 21st century would promote false and misguided information about the origin of Black people. God already knew that so-called Christians would use the Bible to justify
So, the bottom line is this. Black history is the same as human history. Glory to God. The origin of Black people is connected to/and a part of human history. The origin of Black people is a part of human origins - so do not separate it. All peoples, all ethnicities, all nationalities have the same origin.
Thank God for all the historians and biblical scholars who through diligent studies have brought enlightenment to the entire world about the origin and magnificent contributions of Black people to all of humanity. Black History is Human History. Black origins are the same as the origin of all peoples, all nationalities, and all ethnicities. It’s time to teach history in a comprehensive truthful manner. It's time.
