The Ethiopian's Place in History and His Contribution to the World's Civilization

"John William Norris's tract The Ethiopian's Place in History (1916)...asserted that the wisdom and religion of the Jews were also of African origin." - The Black Jews of Africa (2008)
"Mainly little-known texts, glorifying ancient Africa, and especially Egypt, included...John William Norris's 1916 The Ethiopian's Place in History." Afrocentrism (1999)
"Drawing on ancient African history, Norris contends in this treatise that the Afro-American is a descendant of the great races of ancient Ethiopia and Egypt." - Black Book Publishers in the United States (1991)

African-American pastor John William Norris in writing his 1916 book "The Ethiopian's Place in History" argues that certain ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, were Hamitic-Negro in origin and gives particular attention to Nimrod who he views as the first great historic figure to give civilization to the world.

Norris does not purpose to deal with the historic stocks, stems and branches of Shem and Japheth; but he purposes to deal with the stock, stems and branches of Ham. His aim will be to show Ham and his descendents' place in history; and their contribution to the world's civilization. His aim will be to give the dark, or African people of the world a more exalted position among the races of the world and to associate the Negro, the Hamite, the Ethiopian among the extinct and most ancient and modern civilizations. Also to show that the civilization of Africa today is the reproduction of an old African civilization.

Regarding Ham, Norris writes:

"The Bible, the inspired book, informs us that Ham settled in Africa. The historians also say the same. The Negro came from Africa. Since he came from Africa, he must of necessity come from Hamitic stock, stem and branch. This would indicate that the Negro was a part of, and associated with, the greatest civilization known in human history. The Africans led all the nations of the earth in civilization. The Africans gave civilization to Greece and Rome; and they gave it to the rest of Europe. The Hamitethe Negrorepresents the root of the great race tree or civil tree."

Regarding Nimrod, Norris writes:

"There is no doubt that Nimrod was one of the greatest men that ever had the honor of living on this earth. For no man in the Bible has received greater honor than to stand before the Lord. Because God did not go to Europe to select a man to form the first kingdom, and build the first city and because he made choice of him in Africa...he belongs to the oldest and one of the greatest races on the earth."

Rev. John William Norris, D. D. (b. August 8, 1842) was born in Jefferson County, Virginia, but relocated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in his adult years. He was an itinerate preacher and scholar for three decades. His dedication to ministry began when he joined the Carlisle A. M. E. Church in 1870. That same year the Bishop Daniel Payne of the A. M. E. Church licensed him as a local minister and he was admitted to the Church's Philadelphia Conference. He also attended Lincoln University prior to engaging in ministry. He later transferred to the Baltimore Conference in 1889 and became the Pastor of the Trinity A. M. E. Church.

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