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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 55
Page 7
... servitude is adumbrated in works by church fathers and rabbis alike.12 For instance, Origen (ca. 185– 254) wrote ... servitude in general. As this summary indicates, it is not clear when to date the fateful conjunction of slavery and ...
... servitude is adumbrated in works by church fathers and rabbis alike.12 For instance, Origen (ca. 185– 254) wrote ... servitude in general. As this summary indicates, it is not clear when to date the fateful conjunction of slavery and ...
Page 8
... servitude. Nevertheless, by the early colonial period a racialized version of Noah's curse had arrived in America. In fact, the writings of abolitionists indicate that by the 1670s the “curse of Ham” was being employed as a sanction for ...
... servitude. Nevertheless, by the early colonial period a racialized version of Noah's curse had arrived in America. In fact, the writings of abolitionists indicate that by the 1670s the “curse of Ham” was being employed as a sanction for ...
Page 10
... servitude, to Nimrod, the rebel-king who tyrannizes his fellows, usurps territory allotted to others, and thwarts God's purposes for humanity. Like other American stereotypes of the Negro, these biblical types are complementary as well ...
... servitude, to Nimrod, the rebel-king who tyrannizes his fellows, usurps territory allotted to others, and thwarts God's purposes for humanity. Like other American stereotypes of the Negro, these biblical types are complementary as well ...
Page 11
... servitude. This case against the curse's pivotal role in American proslavery thought has been articulated by Eugene D. Genovese, a leading scholar of Southern culture. Relying on his voluminous knowledge of the slaveholders ...
... servitude. This case against the curse's pivotal role in American proslavery thought has been articulated by Eugene D. Genovese, a leading scholar of Southern culture. Relying on his voluminous knowledge of the slaveholders ...
Page 14
... servitude” without forcing American slavery into the mold of Genesis 9. After the war, however, he invoked Noah's prophecy with greater frequency, arguing that it contained a normative picture of the relationship between the world's ...
... servitude” without forcing American slavery into the mold of Genesis 9. After the war, however, he invoked Noah's prophecy with greater frequency, arguing that it contained a normative picture of the relationship between the world's ...
Contents
3 | |
21 | |
HONOR AND ORDER | 63 |
NOAHS CAMERA | 123 |
REDEEMING THE CURSE | 175 |
Notes | 223 |
Bibliography | 299 |
Index | 314 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
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