African American Ancestry or Hebrew

Oct 18, 2024

Lecture Notes: Africans or Hebrews?

Main Question

  • Are African Americans descendants of Africans or Hebrews?

Historical Context

  • North Africa and Canaan: What happened to the original inhabitants?
  • African American Identity:
    • Descendants of Black captives from the transatlantic slave trade traditionally identified as descendants of Ham.
    • Narrative from Christian, Islamic, and Jewish scholars, but found to be untrue.

Sources and Evidence

  • Zonderville Compact Bible Dictionary:
    • Ham: Youngest son of Noah, progenitor of Egyptians, Ethiopians, Libyans, Canaanites (not Negroes).
    • Japheth: Occupied Isles of the Gentiles.
    • Shem: Progenitor of the Semitic race.

Biblical Descriptions

  • Hebrews as People of Color:
    • King David: Described as 'ruddy' (reddish-brown) akin to color of southern soil.
    • Job 30:30: "My skin is black upon me."
    • Moses (Moshe): Mistaken for an Egyptian.
  • New Testament Examples:
    • Yahushua: Hidden in Egypt from Herod, indicating similar appearance to Egyptians.
    • Shaul (Paul): Mistaken for an Egyptian in Acts 21:28.

Deuteronomy Prophecies

  • Deuteronomy 28:
    • Predictions of oppression, disorientation of Israelites.
    • Applies to African Americans' historical experiences, e.g., slavery.

Historical and Global Context

  • Global Dispersion:
    • Result of slave trade (Portuguese, Spaniards, French, Dutch, British, European Jews, Arabs, Indians).
    • Triangular slave trade and other routes spread Africans globally.

Racial and Cultural Perspectives

  • Nature Knows No Color Line: Jews historically depicted in a range of colors.
  • Genesis 9:27: Expansion of Japheth.
  • Medieval European Royalty: Illustrations of African-looking royals.

Disinheritance and Servitude

  • Jeremiah 17:4: Israelites' loss of heritage and servitude in foreign lands.
  • Historical Examples: Shift from ruling to being ruled due to disobedience.

Controversial Claims

  • Mein Kampf: Alleged claim by Hitler regarding African Americans as true Hebrews.
  • Genesis Prophecy: 400-year servitude prophecy and its modern implications.

Conclusion

  • Presentation supports the thesis that African Americans, or Negroes, could be descendants of Hebrews based on historical, biblical, and anecdotal evidence.