The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South
This essay examines the antebellum history of interpretation surrounding the curse of Ham in Gen 9:18–29. It explores how modern notions of scientific racism were read into the story as a de facto justification for the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery in the antebellum South....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/928 |
| _version_ | 1827675505345691648 |
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| author | Wongi Park |
| author_facet | Wongi Park |
| author_sort | Wongi Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay examines the antebellum history of interpretation surrounding the curse of Ham in Gen 9:18–29. It explores how modern notions of scientific racism were read into the story as a de facto justification for the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery in the antebellum South. However, more than simply being used as a prooftext for racist agendas, the curse of Ham provided a biblical foil for circumscribing a racial hierarchy where whiteness was positioned as superior in the figure of Japheth. By considering key features of the racist antebellum interpretation, I argue that the proslavery rationalization of Christian antebellum writers is rooted in a deracialized whiteness that was biblically produced and blessed with divine authority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-507dd92821934c5f9607509e13a76115 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-507dd92821934c5f9607509e13a761152023-11-23T01:16:06ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-10-01121192810.3390/rel12110928The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum SouthWongi Park0College of Theology and Christian Ministry, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USAThis essay examines the antebellum history of interpretation surrounding the curse of Ham in Gen 9:18–29. It explores how modern notions of scientific racism were read into the story as a de facto justification for the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery in the antebellum South. However, more than simply being used as a prooftext for racist agendas, the curse of Ham provided a biblical foil for circumscribing a racial hierarchy where whiteness was positioned as superior in the figure of Japheth. By considering key features of the racist antebellum interpretation, I argue that the proslavery rationalization of Christian antebellum writers is rooted in a deracialized whiteness that was biblically produced and blessed with divine authority.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/928curse of HamHebrew Bibleantebellum southslaveryracismwhiteness |
| spellingShingle | Wongi Park The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South Religions curse of Ham Hebrew Bible antebellum south slavery racism whiteness |
| title | The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South |
| title_full | The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South |
| title_fullStr | The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South |
| title_short | The Blessing of Whiteness in the Curse of Ham: Reading Gen 9:18–29 in the Antebellum South |
| title_sort | blessing of whiteness in the curse of ham reading gen 9 18 29 in the antebellum south |
| topic | curse of Ham Hebrew Bible antebellum south slavery racism whiteness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/928 |
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