Ham's non "African" son Canaan

Dr. Rachel Levitch

It is my belief that one of the profound enigmas within various communities is the inclination in the United States to place significant trust in pastors and individuals who embody religious ideologies. In America, such figures are often regarded with elevated respect. This elevated regard implies that their statements are perceived as divinely inspired. Reflecting on the pervasive falsehood that suggests Black individuals are somehow cursed by God reveals a subtle yet persistent sin. This notion is as unfounded as any historical claims of divine punishment articulated in the Torah.

Furthermore, there exists a tacit belief within certain Jewish circles that Black individuals are cursed. This sentiment can be observed in the manner in which Jewish communities engage with converts. It is essential to address this issue, as the lack of open dialogue contributes to a culture that complicates the process of conversion across synagogues, which often espouses a message of unity. While I could elaborate further, I wish to emphasize that the idea of Black individuals being cursed in America is unequivocally false.

 A key text here was Gen 9:20-27, which presents the so-called Hamitic curse. In spite of the obvious exegetical fact that it is Ham’s non-“African” son Canaan—and not his “African” sons (cf. Gen 10:6)Mitzrayim (father of the Egyptians), Cush (father of the Cushites) and Phut (father of the Libyans)—who is cursed to be “the slave of Japheth,” this text has played an extraordinarily important role in the Western justification of keeping Africans as slaves. [2].  Fundamentally, this represents a fallacy that I consider to be one of those "enigmas" where individuals choose to trust religious zealots rather than engaging in personal research and dedicating time to the study of the Torah.

                                                                            Historical literature indicates that Black Americans have endured centuries of oppression in North

America. In order to survive, they have preserved Africultural values and embraced practices unique to their community. Strengthening these cultural values and practices may enhance the psychosocial well-being of this population.  Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery.  The book meticulously examines the so-called curse of Ham (or Canaan) as documented in Genesis 9, which was referenced by proslavery advocates prior to the Civil War, and investigates the impact of this curse tradition in the United States both prior to and following the Civil War.  It sheds light on the religious aspects of America's racial history by examining the ways in which the book of Genesis has been employed to rationalize slavery, segregation, and the oppression of African Americans.  It is essential to revisit some of my sources and initiate a thorough investigation into the truth:

•  The notion that Black individuals are cursed is unfounded.
• The historical context reveals that America has been in error regarding its treatment of Black individuals.
• The generational trauma experienced by Black Americans stems from the systematic oppression and violence they have endured.
• It is a moral failing for Jewish communities to passively accept American cultural norms that exclude converted Jews of Color into there synagogues and as an open place of worship in the United States.

The prevalence of documented discrimination in various aspects of life indicates a widespread pattern of discrimination against Black individuals in America, rather than merely isolated incidents. Disparities between Black and white individuals are evident in nearly all interactions with both public and private institutions, encompassing areas such as healthcare and law enforcement. The existence of systemic discrimination highlights the necessity for more proactive institutional measures to combat racism in both policy and practice.

Source:

1. Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of black Americans  Sara N. Bleich, PhD, 1 Mary G. Findling, PhD, SM, 1 Logan S. Casey, PhD, 1 Robert J. Blendon, ScD, 1 John M. Benson, MA, 1 Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc, 1 Justin M. Sayde, MS, 1 and Carolyn Miller, MS, MA 2
2. Stephen R. Haynes, Noah’s Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery (Religion in America; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).

3. Sefaria.org Source Sheet