I have done extensible research on every side of the so-called "Afrocentric" debate concerning the Ancient Egyptians, and I must say that I find flaws in both the Eurocentric notion of an all-Mediterranean ("Hamitic") Egypt, and the racist idea that Egypt was an exclusively black African civilization that influenced the ENTIRE course of history as we know it, and the absurd notions that it harbors (black Egyptians crossing the Alantic ocean and colonizing the Mayans and Aztecs, for example).

To begin with, the Egyptians were a mixed race of people FROM THE BEGINNING. That means that from dynasty 0 (started by King Scorpion and Narmer), all the way to the arrival of Alexander the Great and the Ptolemies, there have been black Africans, Mediterranean caucasoids and even fair haired European types present in the Egyptian empire. This explains the existence of red-haired mummies dating back to the beginning of Egyptian civilization, and also accounts for the fact that many predynastic populations in Egypt are distincly African. There was a blending of cultures from the very beginning, as well as a gradual absorption of light-skinned Libyans and black Nubians over a period of time.

Is it so hard for historians and scholars to accept that Ancient Egypt was a melting pot from the first dynasty on up? Most will tell you that the presence of Africans in Ancient Egypt is a result of Nubian campaigns during later dynasties (such as the 18th and 19th), or perhaps "infiltrations" that occurred as a consequence of the expansion of the Egyptian empire; indeed all of this true, but there WERE African types even BEFORE these events!

There are busts that exist dating back all the way to the first dynasty that display negroid features, such as the infamous "Narmer head", which has long been overlooked by scholars and Egyptologists. King Scorpion and his son Narmer were from Upper Egypt, which has long been regarded as the cradle of Egyptian civilization. This is also where the African presence was the largest, as many Theban mummies attest. Why do so many scholars and Egyptologists disregard the possibility that the first Egyptian dynasty was a black one?

With this in mind, one cannot overlook caucasoid mummies like "Ginger", with their discretely reddish hair and European features, which instantly drive a steak through the heart of the radical Afrocentric view that Egypt was an EXCLUSIVELY "black" civilization. This does not mean that there were ONLY European types present either, but rather attests a heterogenous population from the beginning!

The bust of Khufu's nephew Hemiunu shows non-negroid features, but many busts of Khufu himself are quite African in appearance. It is not unusual then that another bust found in Hemiunu's tomb, believed to be that of one of his wives, shows a prognathous face with Nubian features. This can only indicate that the fourth dynasty family was mixed, and this is further corroborated by the face of King Khafre and his descendants. The Sphinx is renowned by Afrocentrists for its African appearance; indeed, if the nose were to be reconstructed correctly, their claims would be partially accurate. Yet they ignore the fact that many members of great Khufu's family were indeed non-African, perhaps even European.

Many Egyptian wigs are made up of various hair types and textures, and they are made of REAL Egyptian hair. There are wavy blonde wigs and kinky, braided wigs made of African hair. Some are even combined from different racial types. It is a known fact that during the 18th dynasty (especially in the reign of Akhenaten and Nefertiti), Nubian-style wigs were fashionable and quite popular among royal and noble families, mixed and homogenous.

Many of the so-called "White Nationalists", who have nothing better to do that cut and paste from Arthur Kemp's erroneous "History of the White Race", have often claimed the beautiful Nefertiti as a "white" and "unmixed" queen of Egypt. That is easily disproven, as the bloodline of Nefertiti herself can be traced back to Seqenenre Taa II, a pharaoh of the 17th dynasty, which many Egyptologists believe to be of Nubian extraction. His Nubian heritage alone renders the entire 18th dynasty a mullato one, even if many of its members share distinctly caucasoid traits, such as the chestnut-colored hair of Tuthmosis IV, and Amenhotep II's wavy brown head and fair skin. This goes as long as one follows the "one-drop" rule constituted in America, where one drop of African blood renders one a "negro", no matter what.

I am not saying this to give credence to any of the radical sects of "Afrocentrism", because indeed many of these so-called "groups" are racist to the highest degree. Rather, I am being 100% TRUTH-centric in my claims, and I hold in firm belief that the population of Ancient Egypt was a mixed one from start to finish, and, contrary to what Arthur Kemp will tell you, the Egyptian empire THRIVED on the presence of different varieties throughout its existence. There was never a time when Egypt "fell" as a result of being "overrun" by black Nubians (one should note that the Nubian 25th dynasty was a very successful one, restoring decaying Egyptian temples to their original state, and it is thought that the Nubian pharaohs were often "more Egyptian" than the Egyptians themselves!).

When one thinks of race and the Ancient Egyptians, or the so-called the "Egyptian Question", one should envision Egypt as an empire comprised of many nations and peoples, including, but not limited to, Nubians, Libyans, and Semites. Ramses II, one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs, may well have been of Libyan origin. This would explain his reddish hair and fair Caucasian features. One should think of Ancient Egypt as an example to the rest of the world, proving that interracial marriage is not as bad as many would believe. Egypt's heterogenous population and overall prestige and might attest to this in every way. There are countless black, white and Semitic-looking mummies dating back from its very beginning to its fall, and this cannot be argued against.

The Egyptians were not pure black, but neither were they "white", as Hollywood often portrays them to be. They built a great Empire through cooperation and good race relations, and mostly did not even distinguish among themselves, but rather only between foreigners and their countrymen. Nubians were often assimilated into Egyptian culture, but this does not mean there weren't blacks present from the very beginning. Indeed, there were, as well as fair Europeans (such as the Cro-Magnoid Tasians) and dark Mediterranean types.

The Greeks did not "steal" their culture from the Ancient Egyptians either. This is an absurd and very racist idea promoted by the extreme Afrocentrist camp. Though they were greatly influenced by Egypt's architechtural splendor and exalted prowess, the Greeks developed a unique civilization and culture on their own, as did the west Africans, the Chinese and Native Americans. None of these peoples "recieved" their culture from any conquering race, as extreme Eurocentrists, such as Arthur Kemp and the Nordicist variety, and radical Afrocentrists claim. Rather, "civilization" as we know it is something developed by a people's needs and desires alone.

What makes modern-day America such a wonderful place is that there are so many different types in all places throughout the country. Is it not logical to look at Ancient Egypt the same way? We must learn from the Egyptians and emulate their attitudes when it comes to racial tolerance and open-mindedness, lest we perish like so many civilizations that came before us.

I leave you with some examples of both African and non-African traits found in Egyptian statues, mummies and carvings. Final proof of the racial makeup of Ancient Egypt, neither distorted by lies nor political agendas.

The reconstructed face of the Sphinx -

http://hometown.aol.com/jawsphinx/DOM5.jpg

http://hometown.aol.com/jawsphinx/DOM6.jpg

The limestone bust of Hemiunu, Khufu's vizier and royal seal-bearer, believed also to be his nephew -

http://aurora.portage.k12.oh.us/libraries/harmon/social_studies/Egypt/Hemiunu.jpg

A fragment of what was once a bust of Khufu himself, with attributes such as a flat nose and broad face -

http://www.kmtspace.com/f-khufu.jpg

The mummy of Nodjmet, wife of Theban priest-king Herihor, with negroid features -

http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/Nodjmet.jpg

The plaster death mask of King Teti, a pharaoh of the 6th dynasty, with an aquiline nose and moderately full lips -

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/3102/tetimask.JPG

The mummy of an unknown man, possibly a eunuch of Nebseni, with wavy hair and Semitic features -

http://www.narmer.pl/ima_mum/man_c_2.jpg

The mummy of Tuthmosis I, displaying mulatto traits such as a semi-acquiline nose and prognathous jaws -

http://www.narmer.pl/ima_mum/totmes1_1.jpg

The KV55 mummy, thought to be either that of Tiye, Akhenaten or Smenkhkare -

http://www.heptune.com/KV55.jpg

A reconstruction of KV55, drawn by Marianne Luban, showing distinct Africoid characteristics (relatively flat nose, puffy lips) -

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/3102/kv55.htm

The new reconstruction of Nefertiti's face, based on the KV35 mummy purported to be her's -

http://images.usatoday.com/news/_photos/2003/08/12-nef-inside.jpg

The light-skinned mummy of Amenhotep II, with wavy brown hair and thin lips -

http://www.secker.fsbusiness.co.uk/Assets/mummies/mamenhotep2.jpg

The mummy of an unknown boy, probably Webesnu, son of Amenhotep II, with puffy lips and mulatto features -

http://www.narmer.pl/ima_mum/websenu_1.jpg

Finally, the renowned mummy of Ramses II, the greatest pharaoh of all, with its high-bridged eagle nose and wavy red hair -

http://www.narmer.pl/ima_mum/ramzes2_1.jpg