The Curse of Ham is a misnomer for the curse upon Canaan that was imposed by the biblical patriarch Noah. The relevant narrative occurs in the Book of Genesis and concerns Noah's drunkenness and the accompanying shameful act perpetrated by his son Ham the father of Canaan (Gen. 9:20–27). The controversies raised by this story regarding the nature of Ham's transgression, and the question of why Noah cursed Canaan when Ham had sinned, have been debated for over two thousand years. The story's original objective was to justify the subjection of the Canaanites to the Israelites, but in later centuries, the narrative was interpreted by some Jews, Christians and Muslims as a curse of, and explanation for, black skin. Nevertheless, many Christian denominations strongly disagree with such interpretation due to the fact that in the original biblical text, Ham himself is not cursed and race or skin color is never mentioned, and therefore, out of context in the story of Genesis 9.
Read more about Curse Of Ham: Origins, Ham's Transgression, Curse of Canaan, Origins of The Misnomer
Famous quotes containing the words curse of, curse and/or ham:
“That’s why I’ve come to you, to seek release from a curse of misery and horror against which I’m powerless to fight alone.”
—Edward T. Lowe. Erle C. Kenton. Count Dracula (John Carradine)
“They [twin beds] are the most stupid, the most perfidious, and the most dangerous invention in the world. Shame and a curse on who thought of them.”
—Honoré De Balzac (1799–1850)
“We had some ham and eggs and took our time saying goodbye to the bright lights.”
—Stanley Kubrick (b. 1928)