Why do people keep saying black people weren't the Ancient Egyptians?

Question

The black Africans built the Pyramids and the landmarks you know today, the reason why the current region is not inhabited by blacks anymore is because the Arab berbers invaded the ancient egyptian region and pushed them south in later centuries. This was proven in a survey that lasted from 1986-1989.

White or Black?

http://www.maat.com.au/images/femaleface.gif

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/diet7.jpg

http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/parkdaleps/Welland04/alizaegypt/working%20egyptians

http://www.gadling.com/media/2006/02/hieroglyphics.jpg

This is undeniable truth, I would LOVE for someone to say otherwise so I can embarass them in front of everyone.

Pictures never lie.

Answer 1

If there is debate about exactly what or who the ancient Egyptians were, fine. Consider then the Kingdoms of Kush or Nubia, powerful armies highly developed civilizations and undeniable a black people. It is thought that portions of what we think of now as ancient Egyptian culture was taken by diffusion from Kush.

It seems to me that the ancient Egyptians were a group with some diversity, at different times Egypt was invaded successfully at other times outside groups were allowed in. Whether these were the Sea Peoples,lighter skinned perhaps Semitic, for the most part lighter than Egyptians but probably some dark Africans as well in the group, or the people from Kush or Nubia entered into the larger Egyptian culture and the gene pool. The Hitittes successfully conquered Egypt and gave rise to a dynasty.

The art of the ancient Egyptians seems to differentiate themselves from Kushites, by making the Kushites quite dark, and darker than the depictions most but not all of the Egyptians. Still since the Egyptians are a very ancient people and because they seem to have inhabited the region even before the rise of history, and because the color which they choose to depict themselves in their art falls with in the range of skin tone that we could consider as African, why would anyone attempt to deny that the ancient Egyptians were any thing but African people. It is of course probable (at some times) that the ruling families were often lighter than common Egyptians, there is very strong historical evidence that the royal line of some dynasty's married successful invaders, for instance in a later but still ancient time Alexanders general Ptolemy became in effect the Pharaoh and he was a Macedonian.

Answer 2

Well, all the data I've seen, points to the fact that all people were at least some shade of darker skin in the beginning and I totally agree with that conclusion. So yeah, I'd say, you're right. But I don't think any sort of cultural authority has ever made any claims that Egyptians were white. Maybe some ignorant person at your school says different but they're still in school, so they have an excuse for being ignorant.

However, you're making your point in a race bating sort of way. It seems like you just want to find something to argue about.

The pictures you linked to prove nothing. Ink is an organic man made thing. And inks and all manner of coloring chemicals can change color over 3 thousand years. And the other pictures are obviously not of real people that lived back then. Also, a survey is a poll of opinion and so proved nothing.

Again, you're right, but you need to at least come with some real supporting data and archaeological studies and not some opinions and pictures you found on the Internet.

Answer 3

I saw the pictures. Number 3 should not be used as proof, since it is from modern times and says little about how Egyptians looked like. Keep in mind there are many groups that are that dark -- Arabs included. And the people in the wall paintings don't look black to me, sorry.

Your quote: "the reason why the current region is not inhabited by blacks anymore is because the Arab berbers invaded the ancient egyptian region and pushed them south in later centuries"
Arab and Berber are TWO DIFFERENT ethnicities. Obviously you know little about history.

I take it you never saw a picture of Ramses II mummy - while its hard to identify his features, it's clearly obvious he had a hooked nose and straight hair.

During the 90's, six famous geneticists (among them Cavalli-Sforza) studies ancient Egyptian DNA. The results turned out to be closer to Southern Europeans and North Africans than black Africans (but I guess you'll probably say this was a conspiracy).

Check out Khufu's mom, Hetepheres (you DO know who Khufu is, don't you?):
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/fourthqueens5.jpg

Take a look at this chart, about craniology (skull measurements). take a look where the ancient Egyptians lie.
http://www.geocities.com/enbp/mds_details.html
Sure, upper Egypt leans towards Somalia a bit, but it is still in the Middle Eastern range.

Greek historians Arrian and Strabo (who lived at different times, but way before the Islamic invasion) both wrote that the Egyptians resembled people from northern India --- dark people, true, but not black.

Gee, the conspiracies against black people sure started early in history!!

Answer 4

Or for that matter that Jesus was Charlton Heston's lookalike? I like the Ethiopian churches' depiction of Jesus. He looks as Ethiopian as the Greek Orthodox jesus looks Greek, etc. A blonde Jesus is a bit of a stretch, though.

As for the Egyptians, there is some scholarly thought (don't ask for the reference, my library got banished to boxes in the garage after I got married) that Egyptians' references to colors of people were less about skin color than about status, culture, and identity. Kind of like the US, where many people who identify as black are as pale as I am.

Egyptian paintings that appear to have survived the millennia show varying colors of skin, from red-ocher to ebony to alabaster to mustard yellow. Clearly these are not now, and were likely not at the time of painting, literal equals of people's skin color. I think I recall correctly that colors had a different symbolic importance, and that light and dark were not thought of in the European/Christian metaphor for good and evil, beautiful and ugly.

Also, please recall that many Egyptian paintings depict animal-headed deities in the same frames. Clearly not intended as literal depictions of objective reality.

Last, I recall from reading (a reference! I remembered a reference!) in Basil Davidson's _Africa in History_ some translations of Egyptian texts, in which royals praise the beauty of the Kushites [correction: Nubians - thanks miteshdasa], whom they describe as black-skinned. There was intermarriage, and the Nile connects Lake Uganda and Lake Turkana to the Mediterranean, so my guess is that Ancient Egyptians probably varied like Brazilians do today.

All that said, and leaving aside that ridiculous modern illustration of Egyptians at work (proving only that someone a few years ago thought that Egyptians at work might be brown... duh), your overall point is worth considering.

I think that the people who say they are "color-blind" and the people who assume that Ancient Egyptians were white probably enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Then, when any of us question that, we're the racists for bringing it up.

Answer 5

you have a solid element. I too have heard that related to the sphinx too and it incredibly is smart to me. additionally white human beings attempt to make Jesus seem white too whilst he's no longer. And properly the Israelites weren't white the two and seem who claims to be Israelites over in Israel,WHITES. White human beings constantly attempting to scouse borrow stuff from different non-whites. Stealing from blacks,hispanics, and local individuals! And yeah i comprehend it sounds somewhat racist yet **** white human beings merely won't admit to the fact. additionally black human beings made a great form of issues. seem it up.

Answer 6

Pictures never lie?! LOL

The best archaeology to date suggests strongly that ancient Egyptians didn't have any concept of 'race' - they were Egyptians, simple. I find it amusing that you would lay claim to their legacy along racial lines.

So, what you're saying then is that blacks enslaved the Israelites. That's delicious.

The fact of the matter is that there is no definitive evidence that all Egyptians were black, or white, or of varying shades of skin colour. However, if it makes you feel better about yourself to believe that they were black, go right ahead.

Edit: BTW, the figures depicted in the images you linked don't look remotely black to me. At least one of us is seeing what we want to see.
Oh, and that third image was clearly left by ancient Egyptians...

Edit II: Passion, I am more than willing to associate blacks with royalty. How about Makeda and Menelik? You do know who they were, right? No one disputes their royalty or power or anything to do with any related accounts, so far as I know. Their line continues in the present day. You can't paint people as prejudiced conspirators simply because you happen to disagree with their position for whatever reason, be it rational or not.

Answer 7

King Teck was black. So technically they were black. And the and was that said they were brown skin still may be in middle school. I'm half white, half, black and could easily pass for white. People don't believe me

Answer 8

you are correct and it is rascism denial and fear of being inferior although all men are equal with different qualities that even out. the idiots who believe the best archeology,yeah right how much did they pay to have the authority to claim knowing any thing. archeologist can be some of the most rascist people on earth who's job is to keep or prove superiority of whites,as did darwin,lennaeus,dalton,dr. simms etc the sciences of over 100 years ago was rascist what does that make discoveries in arche since then.egypt is part of africa how many people know that or believe it.

Answer 9

I'm a black female and I agree with you. It's almost like they don't want to associate black people with royalty. They need to face it and accept that black people do come from royalty. If people picked up a history book once in a while they would know this.

Answer 10

I agree with you. It's because of the old racism as usual.

It's not going away until they are destroyed at Armageddon; the ones constantly trying to take Egypt out of Africa, and discredit Black people.