The Latin phrase “Semper novi quid ex Africa!” translates literally as “Always something new comes out of Africa.” It is attributed to Pliny the Elder, a Roman proconsul and writer from the first century AD. Pliny used this statement to highlight the continuous discovery of remarkable things emerging from the continent of Africa. As we celebrate June 19 as Juneteenth or Freedom Day in the U.S., which was recognized as a federal holiday for the first time in 2021, and commemorate the emancipation of our African American brothers and sisters in Texas and later throughout the Confederate South, it is crucial for people of African descent and individuals from all communities to reflect on how humanity reached the deplorable point of commodifying, merchandising, objectifying, and profiting from the sale of human beings solely based on the color of their skin. This article delves into the origins of racism, tracing it through time and space to uncover the first and the last instances of racism. By utilizing Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis as presented in “Moses and Monotheism,” I will explore how the fundamental concept of otherness emerged and spread across civilizations, manifesting as anti-Black racism, Nordicism, Aryanism, nationalism, capitalism, socialism, and more, continuing to influence our present-day society. Surprisingly, in line with Pliny the Elder's warning, this exploration will lead us to a somewhat amusing discovery: the first racist was found in Africa, and the hope is that the last racist will emerge from Africa. Scientific consensus affirms that human life originated in Africa around six to two million years ago. The first human state emerged in Africa (3273–2987 BCE) with Narmer or Menes unifying upper and lower Kemet, establishing the first Pharaonic dynasty. Kemet/Egypt thrived as a prosperous civilization, drawing diverse people and enduring various invasions and conquests. The magnificent inventions of ancient Kemet and Nubia, including pyramids, hieroglyphic writing, papyrus, medicine, calendars, shadufs, Meriotic script, Nubian architecture, jewelry and goldsmithing, Nubian archery, ironworking, mathematics, and irrigation systems, were so awe-inspiring that Shakespeare‘s Ancient Pistol exclaimed, “A foutre for the world, and worldings base! I speak of Africa, and golden joys.” To sustain such longevity and diversity, Kemet embodied the Ubuntu spirit — wisdom, science, inclusiveness, and tolerance fostered by polytheism. In 1939, Freud's “Moses and Monotheism” challenged prevailing beliefs by revealing that Moses was actually born into a Kemetian household and had ties to Akhenaten, an early monotheist. Moses fled Kemet, perpetuating monotheism, and inspiring Judaism, then later, Christianity, and finally Islam. While these belief systems advocate peace and love, they also introduced concepts of otherness, dividing humanity with tragic consequences throughout history. According to Bob Brier's 2011 book “A History of Ancient Egypt,” Akhenaten was the “Heretic Pharaoh,” and the “earliest recorded monotheist in the world.” Hence, I argue that he can be viewed as the first racist, as his belief system introduced unprecedented levels of division and bloodshed into human history from the massacres of “unbelievers,” “pagans,” “gentiles,” “infidels” in the Torah, the Bible or the Quran, to the current day's terrorist wars, passing by slave trades and colonialisms, sometimes justified by the Judeo-Christian religious myth of the “curse of Ham.” The origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can be traced back to Abraham. These three monotheistic religions also share a common reference to the religious myth of the “curse of Ham,” which is either based on folk mythology or passages in the Christian Bible, such as Genesis 9. The story recounts how Noah's son, Ham, mocked his father's nakedness, resulting in Noah cursing Ham's descendants to be slaves while blessing his other sons Shem and Japhet interpreted by racist ideologues as all white and non-black races of the world. While the original narrative does not explicitly mention skin color, over generations, all manners of racist proselytizers interpreted this so-called curse as applicable to Black people. This interpretation served as a bizarrely twisted justification for the oppression, subjugation, and enslavement of black individuals over centuries. While not all adherents of these religions practiced slavery, the association of Blackness with inferiority and subjugation became deeply ingrained in the collective memory of certain cultures, leading to unimaginable suffering and dehumanization.
Aid Journal
Juneteenth: Meet the first and last racist
2026-11-15 07:37:35 · The Daily Ledger
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