A HISTORY DENIED: THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF
ANCIENT EGYPT
By Tyree DeLoach
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PREFACE
When discussing issues of race and history terminology can be a very sticky issue. Before beginning I will clarify the terminology used in the following essay. Although every race has within it many ethnicities and nationalities contemporary society has turned to using blanket terms to describe people of various ethnic backgrounds under umbrella terms due to similarities in genetics and origin. I will use the term “Black” to refer to any of the peoples of the African continent who exist within what is known as the Negro genotype weather referring to ethnic groups of today or antiquity. I have decided to do so because it is the most inclusive, understandable, and political correct term, I am very much aware of the diversity of the Negroid genotype and phenotype and very much aware that the term “black” can be applied to many people who are not visually black in pigment. I will use the term Asiatic to describe people of Middle Eastern descent that exist within the Caucasoid genome or mixed black and Asiatic who are of predominately non-black ancestry. I will use the terms Kemet and Egypt interchangeable to discuss the territory that the following essay is in reference too.
The forum for which this essay is for allowed only a minimal amount of page, I have exceeded that maximum by 4 pages. There are aspects of Egyptian culture I was unable to go into in detail due to limited space. I had intentions on further proving the connections to Ancient Egypt and the rest of Africa by showing the similairites in their art, culture, and religion. I had intended on going into great detail on the variation in features found amongst blacks in the African continent from the shape of their noses, skin tones, hair textures, and other elements of appearance. However this was not possible. I even wanted to go into great detail about the non-black Egyptian rulers and how they were perceived by the Egyptians, and the connections between characters of Hebrew biblical mythology of whom there is little or no proof of their existence, and their very real Egyptian counterparts like Pharaoh Ahmose and the Hebrew Moses. What I did however achieve was an introductory to the laymen of black African history and Egypt which I hope will benefit the intellect and stimulate the intrigue of the reader.
The world has been fascinated with ancient Egypt since antiquity. The Greeks
and Romans both spoke highly of their powerful rulers, beautiful women, spiced foods, dazzling
architecture, and their majestic Gods. Much later in history after the fall of the longest
standing civilization in human history people look to Egypt as a place of mystery and power.
Napoléon Bonaparte was single handedly responsible for the resurrection of interest in Ancient
Egypt. Because of his lust for power and conquest he sought Egypt due to the mystery and
wonder surrounding it. After his discover of the temples, palaces, and monuments of ancient
Egypt all of Europe was awash in Egyptian symbolism, fashion, and literature. This set of a
chain reaction across the European continent, archeologist swarmed Egypt digging for all that
they could find about this glorious civilization. Ever since then Egypt has been the number one
place in the world for archeologist in their search for ancient splendor. However, one particular
facet of Egypt’s history has been overlooked, dismissed, and denied by many archeologist and
historians despite preexisting facts and ideas. Ancient Egypt is on the African continent as as
with other African civilizations the ancient Egyptians were black, yet most portrayals of ancient
Egyptians today are made to look Caucasian reflecting the image of the archeologist,
filmmakers, and historians who have a monopoly on academia and media. I will prove
factually that the original inhabitants of ancient Egypt were black and related to other African
cultures racially and that this was a very well- known fact throughout Egypt’s history up until
the advent of colonialism and slavery which gave way to blatant euro-centrism and ethnic
supremacy.
African Phenotypes and Genotypes
Many have attempted to claim a non-African ancestry for the Egyptians due to
the features of some of the Egyptians depicted on the walls of palaces and temples. The
Caucasian and Asian peoples of the world possess a wide range of facial features hair textures,
and skin tones. Scandinavians and Slavs are both Caucasian however yet they have different
features neither being more or less Caucasoid. The same is true of the black peoples of the
world; the fallacy of “black features” has no basis in reality. The idea that richly pigmented skin,
broad noses, full lips, and coarse hair are markers of “Africaness” negates the fact of the
diversity of features on the African continent. Although extremely rare, there are also instances
of blond hair (Figure 1a) and blue eyes (Figure 1b) on the contrary to popular beliefs the African
continent is the most diverse in facial features, hair textures, and skin tones. It is believed by
many that Africans who have finer grades of hair and lighter skin tones are of mixed ancestry
which is not true or based in either history or science. There is also the fallacy of “white
features” such as narrow noses, thin lips, and fine hair which exist on the African continent and
are by no means of European origin. Many Africans have features that are inaccurately called
“Caucasian” which are by no means uncommon amongst people on the African continent
(Figures 1c.-1h.).
THE ORIGIN OF THE EGYPTIANS
People have a tendency to refer to themselves the way that their neighbors
referred to them. The Greeks, Ethiopians, Indians, or Native Americans historically never
referred to themselves as such. The same is true of the Egyptians, who referred to their land as
Kemet and there people as Kemites. The term Egypt came into being from the Greeks who
invaded and ruled Egypt under the Ptolemy dynasty of which Cleopatra VII was a member of.
The Greeks call Kemet “Aegyptos” which was a reference to a Greek mythological character
who had a connection to Egypt. According to the Ancient Egyptian they came from the “South”
in land of Punt, which scholars believe is the horn of Africa. The Kemites call their original ruler
who unified Upper (Southern) and Lower (Northern) Egypt Menes or Narmer (Figure 2) who
was said to come from the land of Cush which is an Ancient African kingdom. There are many
historical accounts reference Menes as being black and coming from a preexisting black nation
which will be further examined later. The word Kemet is a term from the Egyptian language
which means “Black Land” there are disputes weather this is in reference to the color of the
people or the fertile soil, there are accounts in ancient Kemet of both.
How The Greeks Saw Ancient Egyptians
At its prime Ancient Egypt was the most splendid civilization in the ancient
world. The once fertile soil of Egypt produced abundant crops, making hunger virtually
unheard of. The land was full of minerals allowing the aristocracy to drape themselves fine
jewels and build great temples full of decadence. In short, Egypt was the place to see and be
seen, the Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, Persians, and Nubia all flocked to Egypt’s glorious
cities. Historians also left many accounts of the appearance of the Ancient Egyptians.
Herodotus who was a Greek historian who was well traveled in the ancient world had this to
say of the Egyptians 'As for me, I judge the Colchians to be a colony of the Egyptians because,
like them, they are black with woolly hair...'[1]. Another ancient traveller Aeschylus, who was a
Greek poet and playwright, had this to say about a ship full of men approaching in the distance
"The crew must be Egyptians for their black limbs stand out clear to the eye against their white
tunics” [2]. As I have mentioned before people have a tendency to adopt the names given to
them by foreigners, and foreigners have a tendency to lump all people into a categories
because of their obvious ethnic relation. For example in contemporary society the terms Native
American and African are used as blanket terms to describe a whole array of cultures, in a vast
land mass. Somalis,Yorubas, Dogons, and Mendes although all African differ greatly in their
culture. This was the same case in antiquity, the term Ethiopian is actually not a term coined by
the people of Ethiopia. It was an epithet given to them by the Greeks who referred to them as
Aethiop which translates to “burnt faces”. Ethiopian became a term used to describe all black
Africans in antiquity rather it was in reference to Kushites, Nubians, Egyptians, or anyone else
who we would today refer to as black. Diodorus Siculus another Greek historian said this of
Egypt history and priesthood “Ethiopians were the first men that ever lived, the only truly
autochthonous race and the first to institute the worship of the gods and the rites of sacrifice.
Egypt itself was a colony of Ethiopia and the laws and script of both lands were naturally the
same; but the hieroglyphic script was more widely known to the vulgar in Ethiopia than in
Egypt. This knowledge of writing was universal in Ethiopia but was confined to the priestly
classes alone in Egypt. This was because the Egyptian priesthood was Ethiopian”[3]. Not only
did Diodorus confirm the race of the ancient Egyptians but his observations also support the
“Out Of Africa” conception of humanity, which is no considered to be factual by most
anthropologists, an idea which is by no means new but denied for centuries do to callous racial
motives.
Biblical Accounts of Ancient Egypt
One need not be a Christian or except the bible as the absolute word of God, or
look at it in any way shape or form as religious text or reliable history to be able to take into
account the observations made by the authors. The authors of the bible had a method of
classifying races which science now proves is more myth then reality. However despite it’s
obviously racist overtones and even if the story of the origin of races is mythical, one cannot
denounce that it’s validity in allegorical categorizing groups of people. According to the bible
after the deluge, Noah and his sons set out to repopulate the Earth, he had three sons Ham,
Japheth, and Shem who are by biblical accounts said to be the progenitors of humanity. The
idea of “three sons”, coincides with the modern scientific idea of three races (Negroid,
Caucasoid, and Mongoloid). Each son was responsible for populating different areas of the
world, and according to the bible they did so. As this is not an essay about the bible it is only
necessary that Ham be examined. Ham whose name means “hot” or “burnt” was the father of
the nations whose people would now be referred to as black. Ham was said to have migrated
southwest populating the Middle East and Africa. One of Ham’s sons Mizriam whose name in
Hebrew means “Two Lands”, (referencing the two kingdoms which existed prior to a unified
Egypt) was said to have been the founder of Egypt. Mizriam was said to be the younger brother
of Cush another one of Ham’s sons. Cush was another black kingdom in Africa which consists of
modern day Ethiopia, and other parts of the African Horn. Mizriam scholars believe coincides
with the King Menes/Narmer who was of Cushite descent and unified the Egyptians. This
blatantly illustrates that the original inhabitants of ancient Egypt were viewed as being of the
same racial stock as all the other inhabitants of Africa.
How The Egyptians Portrayed Themselves, Color Variation Amongst Blacks Ancient and Modern, And the Relationship Between Egypt And Nubia
The ancient inhabitants of Kemet left startling art work, which portrayed
everything from their daily lives to their elaborate religious rituals. The Egyptians were by no
means “camera shy” so to speak, and took every opportunity possible to portray themselves.
Egyptians Kings and Queens took every opportunity possible to build monuments to
themselves, etch their likeness on the walls of their luxuriant temples and palaces, or
commissions statues made of gold, granite, and marble. Despite the attempts made by many
Egyptologists of European descent that the Egyptians were Caucasoid, their story of the
Egyptians themselves tell a very different tale. The Egyptians showed in there artwork the
diversity of the African continent, there depictions are identical to modern Africans and their
descendants. A mural of an Ancient Egyptian royal family could easily be a depiction of modern
day African-Americans, Somalis, Ethiopians, Yorubas, Mangbetus, or anyone of the many other
ethnic groups that make up the black race. There features range from the broad noses, full lips,
wooly hair and richly pigmented skin, found amongst the people of Sudan, The Congo, and
Senegal to the narrow noses, thin lips, and tanned skin found amongst Ethiopians, Somalians,
Malians, and Eritrea. In the artwork of Kemet one can find all the faces found in Africa and the
diaspora today. The Pharaohs of ancient built statues of their likeness so that no one would
ever forgot them long after they were gone(Figure3a.-3e). The Egyptians always portrayed
themselves with pigmented skin and curly, wavy, or wooly hair which are all found on the
African continent amongst natives. Their skin colors varies from very dark black to a “yellowish
brown”, however the “reddish brown” skin tone is by far the most common amongst the
ancient Egyptians. This skin tone is still very easily found on the African continent amongst
many ethnic groups. Many Eurocentric scholars, historians, and anthropologist have tried to
use the color variations of the Egyptians as proof that the Egyptians were not black, however
color variation is found amongst all races as state earlier. Even in other non-Egyptian nations of
antiquity such color variation existed but there was no notion of someone being more or less
Nubian, Cushite, or Egyptian do to slight skin tone variations. The variations that exist today
amongst Africans and those in the African diaspora also existing in antiquity, and all the
features, skin tones, and hair textures can easily be found in native Africans and those of
predominately African ancestry with slight racial admixture on the continent and in the
diaspora who would undeniable be classified as black(Figure 3f-3j).
The French and English like many neighboring nations, have had conflict since
the respective founding of there nation. The French have conquered and enslaved the English,
the English have conquered and enslaved the French repeated throughout their histories. A
Frenchmen of the 18th century (and quite possibly one of today) would have been highly
offended for being mistaken for an Englishman and vice versa. There share different though
intermingling history, distinct culture, language, and religion; their arts are easily
distinguishable from each other and they vary in physical features. However one thing remains
the same both the French and English are categorically Caucasian despite their ancient hatreds
and varied differences. This does not change the fact that they are both of the same racial
stock. Many have tried to claim another than African origin for the Egyptians due to their
conflicts with their neighbors to the South the Nubians. The Nubians are usually depicted as
having darker skin then the Egyptians however this is not always the case. In many instances
when a crowd of Nubians and Egyptians are depicted they are completely indistinguishable
from each other (Figure 3K). Ancients generally viewed the Egyptians and Nubians as being of
the same racial stock and Nubians and Egyptians often intermarried with each other. The
cultures of both ancient Nubia are very similar they worshipped many of the same Gods,
dressed in the same manner, and they both built pyramids which Nubia far outweighs Egypt in
that endeavor contrary to popular belief. Egypt has had Nubian Pharaohs and Nubia has had
Egyptian Kings and never was their any mention of the rulers not looking like the people as was
the case when Caucasian and Asiatic rulers sat on Egyptian thrones.
Foreign Rulers in an Ancient Metropolis and the Exaggerated Idea of Race Mixing
Even though the Native Egyptians were of African origin because of the
kingdom’s grandeur and splendor like every other great nation in history, Egypt drew people
from many other nations. In Egypt one could find an Assyrian, Persian, Greek, or Roman. The
various racial and ethnic groups intermingled, intermarriage, and interbreed with each other,
however one never forgot the difference between a native black Egyptian and Asiatic and
Caucasian expats. Egypt’s magnificent also created envy, and the land was under constant
threat of invasion and in many instances foreign armies succeeded. Persians, Assyrians, Greeks,
and Romans have all made themselves Pharaohs and ruled Egypt. They adopted Egyptian
customs, attempted to erase all mention of former dynasties, and erected temples in their
honor. Often times imaged of Asiatic and Caucasian pharaohs are touted in order to suggest
Egypt having an Asiatic or European origin but this is like dismissing the existence of Native
Americans and suggestion that Blacks and Europeans were the original inhabitants of the
Americas. Such a notion is laughable, yet many have been allowed to make such claims.
Dynasties such as the 15th dynasty of Egypt, and the House of Ptolemy were by no means black
even though some members did intermarry with natives. The Hyksos, another group of foreign
invaders were exiled from Egypt after the natives regained power and ascended to the throne.
The idea of race mixing has been greatly exaggerated, throughout Egypt’s history their existed
clear ethnic and racial lines distinguishing one group from another. As more and more
invasions occurred in Egypt racial mixing became more common, this was observed by many
ancient visitors, most notably Strabo who came long after the aforementioned foreign
historians who compared Egypt to India as having people of fair complexion in the north and
dark complexion in the south.
The Sphinx, Islamic Invasion, Myth of The Primitive Negro, and Concluding Thoughts
The Sphinx is to Ancient Egypt what the Eiffel Tower and Great Wall of China are
to France and China respectively. Even the most uneducated person can place the Sphinx as
being in Egypt. Much mystery has been attached to these great monument which was defaced
by Napoléon Bonaparte himself who could not believe that he saw the face of a Negro on the
Sphinx once he arrived in Egypt, so he ordered his men to use it for target practice. Great pains
have been made to reconstruct the face of the Sphinx and there is an almost unopposed censes
that the Sphinx’s facial features are “negroid”. We have already addressed the variations of
facial features amongst races yet the features present on the Sphinx are absent from Asiatic
and Caucasian peoples. This observation had already been made by man Europeans prior to
the proof provided by modern science. In 1798 Vivant Denon a Frenchmen visited the Sphinx
and noted “Though its proportions are colossal, the outline is pure and graceful; the expression
of the head is mild, gracious, and tranquil; the character is African, but the mouth, and lips of
which are thick, has a softness and delicacy of execution truly admirable”[4]. Another
Frenchmen an aristocrat by the name of Count Constantine de Volney who saw the Sphinx in
1787 said this of the Sphinx , "having a bloated face, puffed-up eyes, flat nose, thick lips – in a
word, the true face of the mulatto. I was tempted to attribute it to the climate, but when I
visited the Sphinx; its appearance gave me the key to the riddle. On seeing that head, typically
Negro in all its features” [5].
Many have tried to suggest that the current inhabitants of Egypt are in fact
native. However, the current Arab populations are the descendants of Arab invaders who
sought to spread Islam by the sword, pillaging and destroying Egyptian culture with great zeal.
This is by no means an opinion, it is well documented historical fact. The Mohammadens came
to Egypt in waves of invasions from the early Arab kingdoms of the 6th century all the way until
the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century.
A great number of scholars, historians, and archeologist refuse to believe
Ancient Egypt was a black Kingdom simply because it is a common consensus that blacks are
simply incapable of such feights without the aid of Arabs or Caucasians. This idea is a relatively
new one and is the product of slavery and colonialism. In order to justify both slavery and
colonialism, the African had to be dehumanized. All African history was attributed to outside
influences, or not acknowledges at all. The African under the rule of Arabs and Caucasians was
forced to adopt foreign religions, customs, and language and not allowed or strongly
discouraged away from anything that was reflective of a truly African identity. This was
absolutely necessary for Arabs and Europeans to do in order to destroy the African identity and
force dependency into the African.
The dehumanization of Africans on the continent and in the diaspora is still a
very real phenomenon today. All things African are considered tribal, primitive, and backwards
by most. African religions like Orisha, Akan, Vodou, Odianni, and Waaqa and there diasporian
variations are associated with Satanism, black magic, and other sinister elements. Yet there is
no notion of Satan in any of this religions nor has anyone one African or otherwise been forced
to convert against their will. Before the arrival of Arabs and Europeans there is no history of
Holy Wars amongst Africans whatsoever, political and economic yes but religious never. Yet
the traditions of Arabs and Europeans are seen as somehow being more civil despite the
endless conflict and bloodshed created. The most unfortunate reality is that the
dehumanization of the African has also been accepted by many Africans and their descendants
who prefer a European worldview and aesthetic. As we march deeper into the 21st century
hopefully we well gain a better understanding of what is means to be human which will allow
us to live amongst each other in tolerance and acceptance. Once such a state has been
achieved the ethnocentrism that exists in academia will be no more, Africans and their
descendants will once again be allowed to take their rightful place in history without the
faintest semblance of shame or doubt. All peoples of the world have contributed greatly and it
is only fair that all get their deserved recognition.
WORK CITED
[1]. Herodotus The Histories. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003. Print
[2]. John Harington Aeschylus. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. Print
[3]. Edwin Murray The Antiquities of Egypt: A Translation, with Notes of Book I of the Library of History of Diodorus Siculus (v. 1). Boston: Transaction Publishers, 1990. Print
[4]. Vivant Denon The Sphinx. Paris: Universal Magazine, 1803. Print
[5]. Count Constantin-François Volney The Ruins, or a Survey of the Revolutions of Empires. New York: Davis, 1796. Print
Bibliography
Herodotus TheHistories. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003. Print
John Harington Aeschylus. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. Print
Edwin Murray The Antiquities of Egypt: A Translation, with Notes of Book I of the Library of History of Diodorus Siculus (v. 1). Boston: Transaction Publishers, 1990. Print
Vivant Denon The Sphinx. Paris: Universal Magazine, 1803. Print
Count Constantin-François Volney The Ruins, or a Survey of the Revolutions of Empires. New York: Davis, 1796. Print
Robert Bauval, Thomas Brophy, Ph.D Black Genesis: The Prehistoric Origins of Ancient Egypt. New York: Bear & Company; 1st Priniting Edition, 2011. Print
Anonymous Holy Bible, King James Version. New York: Plume, 1974
Cheikh Anta Diop The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality: Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 1989. Print
Chancellor Williams The Destruction of Black Civilization: Chicago: Third World Press, 1987.Print
