Over time we have heard diminishing stories about this great continent because some parts of its history that are known to the world were written by the Europeans who whitewashed it, and altered it for their selfish interests. This article unravels one of the biggest lies that was linked to Africans- which is the Curse of Ham.
Without an iota of doubt, we believe it is time to re-write our history and expose the lies that were told about our continent and its people in the past; because a lot of stories have been diluted and twisted to satisfy European Colonial interests.
The Curse of Ham
We choose to start with this because we believe this is the greatest lie that was told about Africans. After all, it is regarded as being the origin of blacks being cursed; as well as one of the many justifications for the Atlantic slave trade. This lie made the Europeans feel superior over Africans. This lie was so widely spread, that some of us started to believe it.
According to the Bible, the curse of Ham is described in the Book of Genesis as imposed by the patriarch Noah upon Ham’s son Canaan. It happened in the context of Noah’s drunkenness and is provoked by a shameful act perpetrated by Noah’s son Ham, who “saw the nakedness of his father.” The exact nature of Ham’s transgression and the reason Noah cursed Canaan when Ham had sinned has been debated for over 2,000 years.
The story’s original purpose may have been to justify the subjection of the Canaanites to the Israelites; but in later centuries, the narrative was interpreted by some Christians, Muslims, and Jews as an explanation for black skin, as well as a justification for enslaving the black people.
Similarly, the Latter Day Saint movement used the curse of Ham to prevent the ordination of black men to the priesthood.
The Actual Truth
With recent research, most Muslims, Christians, and even Jews now disagree with the Interpretation of the Context because Not only Is Ham not Cursed but Race or Skin color was never mentioned.
Moreover, Scripture tells us that Noah had seventeen grandsons. And from their names, we have a good idea which nations developed from which grandchildren. Four of those grandchildren were Ham’s four sons: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.
The Canaanites settled in the Middle East. They appear frequently in the Old Testament of the Bible. For the most part, they have dissolved into other nations or died out.
Egypt is even more obvious. For it is a nation that appears often in scripture and is still present today.
There is no record of a biblical curse put on the descendants of Cush or the nations of Africa.
Conclusion
No generation is cursed and we are all equal in the eyes of our God. Although the Europeans have used this context for a very long time to enable lord over Africans. We believe it’s high time they stop feeling so because we are all equal irrespective of our skin color. What will this world be if we put our hatred for each other and let love lead the way?
What do you think is the biggest lie that was told against Africans?