Our Identity and Our Name

It is interesting and enlightening to find out the meaning of a "name." I was doing some research and found out that, the name that some of my ancestors loved and some despised really meant the same thing in later times. The name happens to be Negro. In the days following captivity many freed chattel slaves were called "Negros" which just happens to mean "black". Of course we all know that a large majority of freed chattel slaves were, and retained their natural black or very dark brown skin color. Although there were also a large number of chattel slaves who were of various light brown to white complexions, they were also classified as Negros. They were not thought of as whites because they belonged to the chattel slave class even though they were of mixed heritage with some being able to pass as whites themselves they were not able to acculturate into mainstream society right after the emancipation, unless they received help from their father’s who had the ability to send them either to the East Coast or Europe where they could make a new start. The variation in their skin color occurred as a result of the continued generational rape of female slaves by the plantation owners during this time period. By the time of the 1960's and the civil rights movement, American's who were the descendants of those freed chattel slaves no longer wanted to be called Negros or Coloreds, but preferred simply to be called “black”. Later in more recent times "Blacks in America have chosen to be called "African Americans" because we were told continually that we were Africans. Many older Blacks do not like this name “African American” and still prefer to be called Blacks”, “Colored”, or Negro depending on their age group. However, academically the name African American is used as the politically correct term when speaking of the group as a whole.

Very recently I have come to understand that neither of these names is correct for the group of people that I belong to. According to Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 we are the rebellious house of Judah, and we were taken captive into Egypt in ships ie. “And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. Deuteronomy 28:68
( ie. the Transatlantic Slave Ships). The proper name for our group is Hebrews or the descendants of Jacob. It always bothered me when I read that HAM was the father of the black races excluding the "NEGRO". It also always bothered me when I read or heard historical documentaries about Africans in Africa and always the narrator was clear to point out that these African tribes were not the "negro". At first I was offended because I saw black people and assumed that I had to fit into on of those African groups at least by ancestry right? Wrong. HAM the youngest some of NOAH was the progenitor of the black races it says in the Zondervan Bible dictionary, those nations being: ancient Egypt (Mizraim), Ethiopia (Cush), Phut (Lybia) and Canaan (The Canaanites of the Scriptures). But the Zondervan Bible dictionary is very clear that HAM was “NOT” the progenitor of the "NEGRO" And we know that Japheth who was the progenitor of the White races was definitely not the progenitor of the "NEGRO" Then it only stands to reason that the Negro is the Hebrew that comes from the family of SHEM-through his son Arphacshad("healer," "releaser") אַרְפַּכְשַׁד- his son Shelach-his son Ever(Hebrew)-his son Peleg-his son Re'U-his son S'rug-his son Nachor-his son Avram(Avraham)-his son Yitzack-his son Jaacoq-his son Judah progenitor of the (Negro's of today.) But when you read the curses that the Father put upon us for our rebellious deeds, here in Deuteronomy 28:37 “And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee”. This verse explains the reason why no one has been able to call us by or true names around the world. There is no other nation on the earth that has continually been redefined by a name. But there is a very bright spot of hope at the end of all this tragedy. The Father is awakening his people, we are recognizing who we are, and whose we are and are beginning to fulfill 2 Chronicles 7:14. He has made an everlasting covenant with our father Avraham and had promised to turn our captivity. So in the restoration of Israel the Father will heal us of our backslidings, give us a new heart and put His spirit in us, and we will again be known by our true name. This gives me so much hope. He will also gather those nations that love and serve Him and add us together and give us all a new name. Blessings and Shalom