Are African Americans Cursed?

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

When you read this passage of scripture, one thing is evident. God is saying His own people are destroyed. How is that possible? Something God owns should never be able to be destroyed. Well as free moral agents, we have the capability of acquired knowledge which we use to formulate our thinking by which me make decisions. If we have a lack of knowledge, or misinformation, that would cause us to make decisions based off the wrong intelligence causing our demise. This is the premise that has been afforded African-Americans since the first slave ship was brought to America. We were taught that we were a cursed people and there was nothing we could do about it because it was in the Bible.  Is that really true? Let’s take a look.

After the flood, the only people left on the planet were Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives. Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth.  From Noah’s sons was the earth repopulated and thus all the ethnic groups emerged.  Guess which one is the father of people of color?  You’re right, Ham! (we do have an affinity for swine, don’t we) Here’s where the curse comes in. Genesis chapter nine relates how Noah got drunk and fell asleep naked. His son Ham saw his Father’s nakedness and told the other two brothers. There’s different schools of thought on exactly what took place. Some say it was against Hebrew culture for a child to look upon their Father’s nakedness. Others seem to think a sexual act or some advantage was taken of Noah. Nevertheless, as a result Noah did in fact curse Ham in verses 24 through 27. So that’s it? Not quite.  Back up to verse one and read what it says.  I won’t type it yet, you need to read this for yourself. I’ll wait…

Hmmmm… Then God blessed Noah and his sons!!!  That means each of them, including Ham was blessed.  That should be enough, but the Bible goes even further to prove itself without our help. 

In Numbers Chapter 23, Balak was trying to get the man of God to curse a people who God had already blessed. In verse 8 he refused and explains why. In verse 20, He goes on to say

“I have received a command to bless. He (GOD) has blessed, and I cannot change it.” (NIV)  emphasis added

The only curse that many African-American people operate in is that of lack of knowledge and misinformation about themselves. It was a calculated move that kept African-American accomplishments and contributions to society out of the history books. And when we don’t understand our history, misbehavior is inevitable. It leaves us without hope and we turn to mankind’s inherent sinful nature to try to get ahead; destroying ourselves and generations to come.

Arise, Oh people of color and take your rightful place as a blessed race of people. Learn of your culture and your ancestors’ contributions to society. Embrace all that God has done in your people! Teach them to your children and your children’s children. Men may not like you, but if you are of an excellent spirit, they will have to respect you. God is not a respecter of persons and you were never intended to be beneath anyone. With God on your side you cannot lose. You have the backing of the Father of the universe. Now go dominate!