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Pharaohs in Dixieland – how 19th-century America reimagined Egypt to justify racism and slavery
Pharaohs in Dixieland – how 19th-century America reimagined Egypt to justify racism and slavery
Charles Vanthournout, Université de Lorraine
When Napoleon embarked upon a military expedition into Egypt in 1798, he brought with him a team of scholars, scientists and artists. Together, they produced the monumental “Description de l’Égypte,” a massive, multivolume work about Egyptian geography, history and culture.
At the time, the United States was a young nation with big aspirations, and Americans often viewed their country as an heir to the great civilizations of the past. The tales of ancient Egypt that emerged from Napoleon’s travels became a source of fascination to Americans, though in different ways.
In the slaveholding South, ancient Egypt and its pharaohs became a way to justify slavery. For abolitionists and African Americans, biblical Egypt served as a symbol of bondage and liberation.
As a historian, I study how 19th-century Americans – from Southern intellectuals to Black abolitionists – used ancient Egypt to debate questions of race, civilization and national identity. My research traces how a distorted image of ancient Egypt shaped competing visions of freedom and hierarchy in a deeply divided nation.
Egypt inspires the pro-slavery South
In 1819, when lawyer John Overton, military officer James Winchester and future president Andrew Jackson founded a city in Tennessee along the Mississippi River, they christened it Memphis, after the ancient Egyptian capital.
While promoting the new city, Overton declared of the Mississippi River that ran alongside it: “This noble river may, with propriety, be denominated the American Nile.”
“Who can tell that she may not, in time, rival … her ancient namesake, of Egypt in classic elegance and art?” The Arkansas Banner excitedly reported.
In the region’s fertile soil, Chancellor William Harper, a jurist and pro-slavery theorist from South Carolina, saw the promise of an agricultural empire built on slavery, one “capable of being made a far greater Egypt.”
There was a reason pro-slavery businessmen and thinkers were energized by the prospect of an American Egypt: Many Southern planters imagined themselves as guardians of a hierarchical and aristocratic system, one grounded in landownership, tradition and honor. As Alabama newspaper editor William Falconer put it, he and his fellow white Southerners belonged to a “race that had established law, order, and government on earth.”
To them, Egypt represented the archetype of a great hierarchical civilization. Older than Athens or Rome, Egypt conferred a special legitimacy. And just like the pharaohs, the white elites of the South saw themselves as the stewards of a prosperous society sustained by enslaved labor.
The founders of Memphis named it after the ancient Egyptian capital, and they hoped the Mississippi River that ran alongside it would become an ‘American Nile.’ The Print Collector/Getty Images
Leading pro-slavery thinkers like Virginia social theorist George Fitzhugh, South Carolina lawyer and U.S. Senator Robert Barnwell Rhett and Georgia lawyer and politician Thomas R.R. Cobb all invoked Egypt as an example to follow.
“These [Egyptian] monuments show negro slaves in Egypt at least 1,600 years before Christ,” Cobb wrote in 1858. “That they were the same happy negroes of this day is proven by their being represented in a dance 1,300 years before Christ.”
A distorted view of history
But their view of history didn’t exactly square with reality. Slavery did exist in ancient Egypt, but most slaves had been originally captured as prisoners of war.
The country never developed a system of slavery comparable to that of Greece or Rome, and servitude was neither race-based nor tied to a plantation economy. The mistaken notion that Egypt’s great monuments were built by slaves largely stems from ancient authors and the biblical account of the Hebrews. Later, popular culture – especially Hollywood epics – would continue to advance this misconception.
Nonetheless, 19th-century Southern intellectuals drew on this imagined Egypt to legitimize slavery as an ancient and divinely sanctioned institution.
Even after the Civil War, which ended in 1865, nostalgia for these myths of ancient Egypt endured. In 1877, former Confederate officer Edward Fontaine noted how “Veritable specimens of black, woolyheaded negroes are represented by the old Egyptian artists in chains, as slaves, and even singing and dancing, as we have seen them on Southern plantations in the present century.”
Turning Egypt white
But to claim their place among the world’s great civilizations, Southerners had to reconcile a troubling fact: Egypt was located in Africa, the ancestral land of those enslaved in the U.S.
In response, an intellectual movement called the American School of Ethnology – which promoted the idea that races had separate, unequal origins to justify Black inferiority and slavery – set out to “whiten” Egypt.
In a series of texts and lectures, they portrayed Egypt as a slaveholding civilization dominated by whites. They pointed to Egyptian monuments as proof of the greatness that a slave society could achieve. And they also promoted a scientifically discredited theory called “polygenesis,” which argued that Black people did not descend from the Bible’s Adam, but from some other source.
Richard Colfax, the author of the 1833 pamphlet “Evidence Against the Views of the Abolitionists,” insisted that “the Egyptians were decidedly of the Caucasian variety of men.” Most mummies, he added, “bear not the most distant resemblance to the negro race.”
Physician Samuel George Morton cited “Crania Aegyptiaca,” an 1822 German study of Egyptian skulls, to reinforce this view. Writing in the Charleston Medical Journal in 1851, he explained how the German study had concluded that the skulls mirrored those of Europeans in size and shape. In doing so, it established “the negro his true position as an inferior race.”
Physician Josiah C. Nott, Egyptologist George Gliddon and physician and propagandist John H. Van Evrie formed an effective triumvirate: Through press releases and public lectures featuring the skulls of mummies, they turned Egyptology into a tool of pro-slavery propaganda.
“The Negro question was the one I wished to bring out,” Nott wrote, adding that he “embalmed it in Egyptian ethnography.”
Nott and Gliddon’s 1854 bestseller “Types of Mankind” fused pseudoscience with Egyptology to both “prove” Black inferiority and advance the idea that their beloved African civilization was populated by a white Egyptian elite.
“Negroes were numerous in Egypt,” they write, “but their social position in ancient times was the same that it now is, that of servants and slaves.”
Denouncing America’s pharaohs
This distorted vision of Egypt, however, wasn’t the only one to take hold in the U.S., and abolitionists saw this history through a decidedly different lens.
In the Bible, Egypt occupies a central place, mentioned repeatedly as a land of refuge – notably for Joseph – but also as a nation of idolatry and as the cradle of slavery.
The episode of the Exodus is perhaps the most famous reference. The Hebrews, enslaved under an oppressive pharaoh, are freed by Moses, who leads them to the Promised Land, Canaan. This biblical image of Egypt as a land of bondage deeply shaped 19th-century moral and political debates: For many abolitionists, it represented the ultimate symbol of tyranny and human oppression.
When the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863, Black people could be heard singing in front of the White House, “Go down Moses, way down in Egypt Land … Tell Jeff Davis to let my people go.”
Black Americans seized upon this biblical parallel. Confederate President Jefferson Davis was a contemporary pharaoh, with Moses still the prophet of liberation.
African American writers and activists like Phillis Wheatley and Sojourner Truth also invoked Egypt as a tool of emancipation.
“God has implanted in every human heart a principle which we call the love of liberty,” Wheatley wrote in a 1774 letter. “It is impatient with oppression and longs for deliverance; and with the permission of our modern Egyptians, I will assert that this same principle lives in us.”
Yet the South’s infatuation with Egypt shows how antiquity can always be recast to serve the powerful. And it’s a reminder that the past is far from neutral terrain – that there is rarely, if ever, a ceasefire in wars over history and memory.
Charles Vanthournout, Ph.D. Student in Ancient History, Université de Lorraine
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Atmospheric River Slams Southern California With Heavy Rainfall: A Traveler’s View From Interstate 10
Atmospheric River Slams Southern California: A powerful atmospheric river dropped record rainfall across Southern California on November 15, 2025, with Oxnard hitting 3.18 inches and inland areas exceeding 4 inches. During a drive from Ontario to Phoenix, we witnessed more than ten accidents on I-10 caused largely by reckless behavior in dangerous conditions. Here’s the full storm update, rainfall totals, and what this extreme weather teaches us about safe driving.
Last Updated on November 16, 2025 by Rod Washington
View of Stoney Point Park and Topanga Canyon Blvd in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Atmospheric River Slams Southern California With Heavy Rainfall: A Traveler’s View From Interstate 10
Driving Through a Storm: What We Learned From SoCal’s November Deluge
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, we made the decision to leave California and head back to Phoenix — but not before being swallowed by one of the most intense storms I’ve experienced in years. As we pulled out from Ontario on Interstate 10, the sky darkened, and what began as a routine drive turned into a lesson on risk, responsibility, and shared danger.
A Storm Like No Other
This was no simple rainstorm. It was a powerful atmospheric river, pushing deep moisture across Southern California and dumping historic amounts of rain:
Oxnard (Ventura County): 3.18 inches — a record-setting single day.
Santa Barbara Airport: 2.90 inches in one day, and upwards of 6 inches over several days in some areas.
San Antonio Heights / Cucamonga Canyon: Inland gauges saw 4+ inches in just a short time.
Ontario / I-10 Corridors: Our route wasn’t spared — roughly 1.9 inches was recorded near Ontario Airport, though I felt the ferocity of far more intense rain.
These numbers tell you part of the story — but not the whole thing. Rain intensity, how fast it fell, and where it fell mattered just as much.
When the Road Became Dangerous
Traveling east on I-10, between West Covina and Indio, we passed at least ten accidents. Given how sudden and brutal the rain was, it’s not surprising: water pooling, visibility drops, and drivers unsure how to react can combine dangerously.Here’s what stood out:
Some drivers did everything right: slowing down, flashing their hazard lights, switching lanes carefully when they saw standing water.
Others, though, acted as if they were immune to the flooding: speeding, swerving, tailgating, even deliberately splashing slower cars. Sadly, many of those behaviors contributed directly to crashes. We saw firsthand that reckless driving didn’t just affect the risk-takers — it also hurt people who were being cautious.
Why This Storm Was Especially Risky
Soil Saturation & Burn Scars
Areas burned by recent wildfires (hillsides in L.A. and Ventura) were a major concern. The soil was already saturated, and rain ran off steep slopes quickly — making debris flows a real threat.
High Rain Rates
Even if a station only recorded a few inches total, some of this rain came down very fast. That gives very little time for water to drain — increasing the likelihood of flash floods.
Traffic Hazards
On major corridors like I-10, low spots and drainage pinch points filled up fast. For someone driving, that means hidden water, hydroplaning risk, and less stopping margin.
Driving Out of the Storm: A Personal Look at Safety and Chaos on Interstate 10
What We Can Learn (and What to Do)
Drive like the conditions are worse than they seem. Even if rainfall totals look moderate, high rain rates or localized flash flooding can catch you off guard.
Use your hazard lights when visibility drops. It helps others see you, and it’s a sign you’re being cautious, not careless.
Don’t tailgate or speed. In rain, safe distance matters more than ever.
Slow down proactively. The best response to heavy rain is to brake early, not hard.
Be especially alert near hills / burn areas. Water may be running off slopes, and debris or loose rock can get carried into the roadway.
Storms like November’s atmospheric river are reminders — nature can humble any road trip. But it’s not just about rain or weather. It’s about how we treat one another when conditions go sideways. On a day when many drivers banded together to navigate safely, there were still too many who refused to adapt — and we saw exactly how risky that can be.
As the storm moves off and skies clear, the danger doesn’t disappear instantly. Saturated soils, weakened slopes, and hidden pools of water persist. For anyone traveling now — especially through canyons, foothills, and low freeway spots — cautious driving, respect for others, and shared responsibility remain the best tools to stay safe.
🔗 Sources
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
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National 211 hotline calls for food assistance quadrupled in a matter of days, a magnitude typically seen during disasters
Last Updated on November 16, 2025 by Daily News Staff
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Driving Out of the Storm: A Personal Look at Safety and Chaos on Interstate 10
Driving Out of the Storm: Driving east on Interstate 10 from Ontario to Phoenix during the November 15 storm, we witnessed more than ten accidents caused largely by reckless driving in severe weather. Most drivers slowed down and used caution, but a few ignored conditions — leading to preventable crashes. Here’s what we saw and what it says about storm safety on I-10.
Last Updated on November 16, 2025 by Rod Washington
Driving the I10 near Palm Springs during Saturday’s storm. Image Credit: Rod Washington
Driving Out of the Storm: A Personal Look at Safety and Chaos on Interstate 10
As we were leaving California on our journey back to Phoenix on Saturday, November 15, 2025, we found ourselves driving straight into the heart of one of the most intense Southern California storms I’ve experienced in decades. Our final stop was in Ontario, and from there we headed east on Interstate 10, hoping to stay ahead of the worst of the weather. Instead, the storm followed us for nearly the entire route.
Visibility dropped to a few car lengths at times. Sheets of rain hammered the windshield. Even with the wipers on full speed, it felt like driving through a gray curtain that never fully lifted. But the toughest part wasn’t just the weather — it was what the weather revealed about how differently people respond to it.
Between West Covina and just past Indio, we saw at least 10 car accidents. Most looked like they could have been avoided. And the contrast between responsible and reckless behavior was on full display.
The majority of drivers were doing the right thing:
Reducing speed to match the conditions
Using hazard lights to alert others in areas of low visibility
Changing lanes safely to avoid flooded stretches
Showing courtesy and respect, understanding that everyone was just trying to get through safely
That kind of cognitive awareness on the road — recognizing danger, adjusting behavior, working collectively — makes all the difference in extreme weather.
But mixed among them were a smaller group of drivers who seemed to treat the storm like a challenge rather than a hazard. We saw cars speeding far beyond what was safe, weaving across multiple lanes, tailgating, and even deliberately splashing drivers who they felt were going “too slow.” Unfortunately, karma came quickly for some of them. Several of the accidents we passed looked like the direct result of that kind of behavior — and tragically, those choices didn’t just hurt the reckless drivers. They injured people who were taking the storm seriously.
It was a stark reminder that during severe weather, safety isn’t just a personal choice — it’s a shared responsibility. Most of us were out there trying to navigate a dangerous highway under extreme conditions. It only takes one careless driver to put several others at risk.
By the time the skies began to lighten, we were grateful not just to be out of the worst of the storm, but to have made it through under our own sense of caution, patience, and respect for the road. Storms like this show us a lot about nature — but just as much about one another.
TM Daily News is a multifaceted podcast that explores a wide range of topics, from life and consumer issues to the latest in food and beverage trends. Our discussions dive into the realms of science, covering everything from space and Earth to nature, artificial intelligence, and astronomy. We also celebrate the amateur sports scene, highlighting local athletes and events, including our special segment on senior Pickleball, where we report on the latest happenings in this exciting community. With our diverse content, STM Daily News aims to inform, entertain, and engage listeners, providing a comprehensive look at the issues that matter most in our daily lives. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
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