What do Egyptians think about the idea that the ancient pyramid builders were black?

Question

There is a school of thought in the US called Afrocentrism that teaches that ancient Egyptian culture was developed by black men and women and that their achievements were deliberately hidden by generations of scholars. Is this idea known in Egypt? What do Egyptians think about it, or black people in general claiming affinity with your ancient culture?

I think that the color of the ancient Egyptians DOES matter--if I were an oppressed African American, I would find some comfort in knowing that people who looked just like me and belonged to the same cultural tradition as I did once achieved great things, and I could too. Everyone wants the pyramid builders to look like themselves.

However, does this justify teaching mythology as history, and taking another country's ancient history?

Answer 1

I don't see why Americans make such a big deal out of color!

But here's my thought.. Africans? yes.. Egypt is in Africa.. Black? no, light brown. Geographically speaking, after all Egypt over looks the Mediterranean sea.

Racial disputes are such a diverse and never ending issue. Why do people feel the need to slam on one race or glorify the other? What difference will it make if pyramid builders were black, brown or blond?

Like Egypt today, I'm sure there was a variety of color back then too. Different shades of people built the pyramids! Why is that shocking to you people!? I'm fair skinned, my cousin is brown and her daughter is dark brown, we're all from one family! We're all Egyptian! Egypt has always been the melting pot for so many different races.

Plus, people of Egypt differ in color according to where they were born inside Egypt itself, for instance, upper Egyptians are usually darker than people from Alexandria. Ancient Egyptians were probably a variety of shades of brown, since Egypt is in north Africa and in the middle east.

Egyptian is a race on its own, like Hispanic, Arab or Latin. Egyptians aren't black Africans, they're not fair skinned people either! They're brown Mediterranean Africans. They're just Egyptians.

Answer 2

Yes Afrocentrism. It is very obvious to me that the Ancient Egyptians were Black, not only looking at their art and wall paintings, but also their hairstyles, which consisted of braids and dreadlocks. But if you want to know the view of modern Egyptians, I suggest you visit the link below. It informs you that the Black Egyptians are still in Egypt, but are hidden in by the Arab controlled media, and definately the Western media. white supremacy is based on the idea that Black people are inferior, and without this belief, it cannot exist. That is why the Egyptologists work so hard to erase the evidence of a Black Egypt, and there is plenty of evidence that supports Kemet (land of the Blacks).

Answer 3

Actually there are many people spending much time to prove that Pyramids were not built by Egyptians or they were slaves or the aliens built it ... etc.
They prove their ignorance as Egyptologists know and many of them seen the evidence that Egyptians built many Pyramids (many of them still there), it's not only the famous great three. The tombs of the workers still there also and they were Egyptians and building the great Pyramids while being happy to do that kind of work.

Answer 4

This school of thought has been around since the early 1970's, the time of the Black Power movement in America.
I would refer to it as "Afrocentricisim" to be honest.
Although evidence shows that the population of ancient Egypt was anything but homogeneous it was far from being predominately *******.
Some will state that there is evidence, as there are depictions of Pharaohs with their faces, hands and feet shown as black and often use Nefertari as a case in point.
Although there is most definitely a depiction of Nefertari shown with a black face etc., there are many that show her portrayed in the usual cream that was the colour of preference for depicting females. While brownish red was used to depict males ,black was reserved for depictions of a person who was deceased unless they were of ******* origin.
Then the individual is usually quite recognisable as such by the hair style,lips,personal adornments and style of clothing.
Their skeletons of in particular the cranium shape and size , facial features and the long bones of the extremities, of asncient Egyptian royal personages show no distinct ******* features.
In most it is quite the opposite and the skulls and facial features revealing finely featured individuals with relatively oval shaped faces, with
aquiline noses and high foreheads.
The people who built the pyramids were mostly drawn from the nomes or states within Egypt during the period of inundation when they were unable to work on their land.
The general population of ancient Egypt was less likely to be influenced by the importation of foreign ******* blood than the elite or royal circles.
Many of the royal wives were sent to the Pharaoh as a means of ensuring peace and trade alliences were maintained.So there would be more liklihood of of interracial mixing in these circles than in those of the commen classes.
There have been a number of studies undertaken to determine if there is any validity in the claim made regarding the ancient Egyptians being a ******* people.
The conclusions made by independent experts in the fields of forensic archeology and others have determined that these claims are unfounded and there is no direct evidence that could allude to the assumption that, in general the ancient Egyptians were of negriod decendency.



I will most likely recieve some emails by those who cling to this belief in particular from one dear "fan" of mine.
But before you bother note;
1.I already take part in the forum you most kindly suggested. The views of which are similar to my own,so do your research.
2.If you feel the need to express your views to me personally, then have the good grace to allow me to reply to you and not use an account especially opened for the purpose with no IM or email contact.
I feel rather honoured that you go to so much effort to attack my views which are in fact, those of most who have spent years studying archeology and Egyptology.

Answer 5

According to DNA done on the mummys, they were not black(Bantu or Hamitic). In fact they share the same DNA as the modern Egyptians. All you have to do is look at the mummys, none of them are black. Black racist are so mixed up they named there daughters Cleopatra, who was ethnically Greek, not Egyptian.

I love how people try to steal other peoples culture. I even heard these black racist claim the Vikings were black and that Buddha and Confucius was black. Hell they even claim Beethoven and Mozart were black

Answer 6

you probably have some idea about african art, does it resemble in any way egyptian art ? compare for yourself, you can also compare faces, features, noses, skulls, bodies

i doubt the first answerer was ever inside a tomb here

Answer 7

Egyptians are 'Black' technically, just not a deep shade of black, I mean they are Africans, I met an Egyptian, that I thought was Arabian or something, and he corrected me and said he was a black man , but about others taking credit, yea this is something we have had to deal with since the beginning of time, we deal with it today, and it will probably never change

Answer 8

what do u think , does Egyptians look black if yes then good idea , if else then its the wrong idea, cos who built the pyramids were PHARAOHS lol.

Answer 9

what the present day egyptians think doesn't matter.they were INVADERS of egypt at 700 a.d therefore were not NATIVE egyptians.ANCIENT egyptians were black,they left statues and drawings of themselves,look for youeself http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/um/mural01.jpg
http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/amenhotepIII.html

Answer 10

Pyramids were built by the EGYPTIANS weather they are black or white. Is that clear ???!!!