Via Pexels
Are Black people the descendants of Canaan, the cursed Biblical grandson of Noah? Many Black Americans believe so, and point to Canaan’s curse as rationale for the centuries of degradation we’ve experienced.
The story behind this belief has a long history - and is deeply intertwined with the history of slavery and racism in the United States.
According to the Christian Bible, as well as Islamic and Jewish religious texts, Ham - Noah’s son - offended Noah. Ham’s exact transgression is debated, but the result? Noah cursed Ham’s son, Canaan, and his descendants.
It’s often referred to as the “Curse of Ham.”
Historian Benjamin Braude adds context: ''Before the 16th or 17th century, the racial interpretation of Ham is absent.” But since then, the interpretation of Ham and his descendants as Black has been very popular.
The Curse of Ham has been used to justify slavery, opposition to the Civil Rights Act, and anti-Black racism for centuries.
But not all Black people see it that way.
Not only do many Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection freed us from all Old Testament curses - if we believe and accept Jesus’ power over our lives - but also find hope in Biblical stories like the Israelites’ freedom from slavery in Egypt.
Whether we’re cursed or not, Black people WILL rise up, overcome, and achieve liberation through collective struggle!