Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery"A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." So reads Noah's curse on his son Ham, and all his descendants, in Genesis 9:25. Over centuries of interpretation, Ham came to be identified as the ancestor of black Africans, and Noah's curse to be seen as biblical justification for American slavery and segregation. Examining the history of the American interpretation of Noah's curse, this book begins with an overview of the prior history of the reception of this scripture and then turns to the distinctive and creative ways in which the curse was appropriated by American pro-slavery and pro-segregation interpreters. |
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Page vi
... relations with the Directors,” Palmer wrote, “permit me to say to them that, during a long life, no association has been more pleasant or profitable than with my Brethren of the Board . . . And the tears blind me, as I write these lines ...
... relations with the Directors,” Palmer wrote, “permit me to say to them that, during a long life, no association has been more pleasant or profitable than with my Brethren of the Board . . . And the tears blind me, as I write these lines ...
Page 3
... woman, the university's community relations coordinator was obliged to explain that Landrith's marital status presented a barrier to his admission. In a letter from the university, Landrith was informed 3 1. Setting the Stage.
... woman, the university's community relations coordinator was obliged to explain that Landrith's marital status presented a barrier to his admission. In a letter from the university, Landrith was informed 3 1. Setting the Stage.
Page 4
... relations. In fact, each of these news items—BJU's defense of segregation based on the Tower of Babel, NBC's embellishments on the story of Noah, and Representative Littlejohn's cryptic reference to racial separation in “Babylonian days ...
... relations. In fact, each of these news items—BJU's defense of segregation based on the Tower of Babel, NBC's embellishments on the story of Noah, and Representative Littlejohn's cryptic reference to racial separation in “Babylonian days ...
Page 9
... relation to the slaveholding South.”33 This study takes up Wyatt-Brown's charge by investigating the dynamics of honor and shame in antebellum readings of Noah's curse intended to defend the institution of slavery. On the basis of this ...
... relation to the slaveholding South.”33 This study takes up Wyatt-Brown's charge by investigating the dynamics of honor and shame in antebellum readings of Noah's curse intended to defend the institution of slavery. On the basis of this ...
Page 14
... relations in general rather than to slavery per se. Before and during the war, Palmer referred obliquely to Hamite “servitude” without forcing American slavery into the mold of Genesis 9. After the war, however, he invoked Noah's ...
... relations in general rather than to slavery per se. Before and during the war, Palmer referred obliquely to Hamite “servitude” without forcing American slavery into the mold of Genesis 9. After the war, however, he invoked Noah's ...
Contents
3 | |
21 | |
HONOR AND ORDER | 63 |
NOAHS CAMERA | 123 |
REDEEMING THE CURSE | 175 |
Notes | 223 |
Bibliography | 299 |
Index | 314 |
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According Adam African American antebellum appear argument association Babel became become Bible Bible readers biblical blessing Book brothers Cain called Canaan century chapter character Christian Church cited Civil claim Commentary culture death descendants desire distinct divine early earth fact father Flood forces Genesis 9 Girard given God’s Ham’s Hamites Hebrew honor human Ibid influence institution interpretation James Japheth John land legend Letters means mind nakedness nature Negro Nimrod Noah Noah’s curse notes observes original Palmer patriarch Presbyterian present Priest prophecy proslavery Providence published question race racial racism readings of Genesis rebellion reference reflected regarded relations religion religious role Scripture segregation separation servitude sexual Shem slave slavery social society sons South Southern story tents theme tower tradition University Press victim violence writes York