This monograph is an original study of what is commonly termed the American "myth of Ham". It examines black and white Americans' recourse to the biblical character of Ham as a cultural strategy for explaining racial origins. Previous studies in the area have been restricted to associating the Hamitic idea with pro-slavery arguments, whereas the thesis of this project reveals a fundamental irony: black American Christians who reinforced the meanings of illegitimacy by appealing to Ham as the ancestor of the race.

Autorentext

Sylvester Johnson is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Florida A&M University.

Zusammenfassung
This monograph is an original study of what is commonly termed the American &quote;myth of Ham&quote;. It examines black and white Americans' recourse to the biblical character of Ham as a cultural strategy for explaining racial origins. Previous studies in the area have been restricted to associating the Hamitic idea with pro-slavery arguments, whereas the thesis of this project reveals a fundamental irony: black American Christians who reinforced the meanings of illegitimacy by appealing to Ham as the ancestor of the race.

Inhalt

The People-ing of God * Divine Identity and the Hamitic Idea in Christian Theology * Ham, History, and the Problem of Illegitimacy * Becoming the People of God * Race and the American People(s) of God *