Uncovering the Evidence: Learning How African American History Dates Back to Ancient Egypt

Black Report Op-Ed: For many centuries, Black history has been shrouded in mystery.  As a people deeply rooted in resilience, strength and courage, it is difficult to reconcile the reality of our unknown past with the abundance of knowledge that we have today about other cultures and civilizations. But thanks to recent scientific discoveries, archaeological evidence and oral histories passed down through generations we can now uncover revelations into how far back our history really dates. In this article we will explore what information points to an ancient connection between Ancient Egypt and our ancestors. 

There is a longstanding debate over the racial identity of the ancient Egyptians, with some arguing that they were Black and others claiming that they were white or of a more mixed race. While it is difficult to determine the precise racial identity of a civilization that lived thousands of years ago, there is evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians were indeed Black.

One of the main pieces of evidence for the Blackness of the ancient Egyptians is their physical appearance. Many of the mummies and other remains that have been recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs show that the ancient Egyptians had dark skin, kinky hair, and other physical characteristics that are commonly associated with Black people. In fact, many of the artistic representations of the ancient Egyptians, such as statues and reliefs, also depict them with these same physical characteristics.

Another piece of evidence for the Blackness of the ancient Egyptians is their cultural and historical context. The ancient Egyptians lived in northern Africa, and they shared many cultural and linguistic similarities with other African civilizations. For example, the ancient Egyptians spoke a language that is closely related to the languages of other Afro-Asiatic peoples, and they had a number of cultural practices, such as circumcision and matrilineal descent, that are also found in other African societies.

In addition to these pieces of evidence, there are also genetic studies that have been conducted on the remains of ancient Egyptians. These studies have revealed that the ancient Egyptians had a high degree of genetic diversity, with some of their DNA markers being most similar to those found in modern-day sub-Saharan Africans. This suggests that the ancient Egyptians had significant genetic connections to other African peoples.

Overall, while it is impossible to know the precise racial identity of the ancient Egyptians, there is a strong body of evidence to suggest that they were Black. From their physical appearance and cultural practices to their genetic makeup and historical context, there are many indications that the ancient Egyptians were an African people.