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Where is Egypt?

Posted By: Jerod
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2002, at 10:20 a.m.

Why is Egypt so often referred to as not being in Africa? I could see if it was just common every day folk making these statements. But you see this notion of Egypt being outside of Africa displayed on the the Discovery channel and from scholars.

For example on the DNAFoundation.com site, it says "The Egyptian rulers, at that time, had fled into Africa, near the source of the Nile where they lived as refugees." That's like saying someone left New York City and fled into the United States.

Also, why are the Egyptians so often referred to as not being Black? As if they're something else. On the Women Pharoahs program that came on the History channel (I think), they mentioned that Egypt had been invaded by "Black Africans" from the south. The program depicted the Egptians as white people with white actors. That didn't make a difference to me. But these "Black Africans" were played by black actors. I don't understand why it's so hard to imagine the ancient Egyptians as black people.

I understand that Africa is a huge continent and northern and southern Africans will not be as dark as Africans nearer to the equator. It's like that everywhere in the world. So the Egyptians were definitely not as dark as the Nubians. I also understand the races, like black and white, do not phyically exist. They're just social concept that get in the way of true academic study, among other things. But King Tut was probably phisically darker than all the Black actors used to portray the Nubians in that program. In fact most Egyptian Pharaohs that left behind traces of their true complexion were physically darker than many people considered black today. And the ancient Egyptians definitely would not have been served at restaurants in the U.S. during the 50's.

I just don't understand what the problem is. When I was a kid, I was told that the Egyptians weren't a civilization. Then I was told that aliens built their monuments. Now they're white people. All people are capable of greatness, regardless of what they looked like or where they came from.

Just ranting, but what do you think?

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