Posted on 06/16/2005 6:59:26 AM PDT by optik_b
King Tut's skin color a topic of controversy
By Evan Henerson Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - Nobody can be sure exactly what the boy king Tutankhamun looked like. But a group of African-American activists charting the "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibition are certain of one thing: He didn't look white.
Following an appearance before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, activists from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Committee for the Elimination of Media Offensive to African People, and the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations plan to protest the Tut exhibition, which opens today at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
They claim a trio of busts configured from Tut's corpse and a CT scan depict the ruler as being white, and are, therefore, inaccurate and racist.
"Those images are so critical for our children," says Legrand Clegg, Compton city attorney and a spokesman for the protesters. "We want them to focus not just on rappers, athletes and entertainers but on figures who are high achievers. What could be more elevating than a little boy who ruled the world?"
Three separate teams of researchers reviewing the data from the mummified corpse have concluded that Tutankhamun, who was part of the 18th Egyptian dynasty, was a Caucasoid North African. Clegg contends these conclusions fly in the face of separate research by a New Zealand and British research team that label Tut Negroid.
"The big variable is skin tone," says Terry Garcia, executive vice president for mission programs for National Geographic, one of the exhibition's presenters. "North Africans, we know today, had a range of skin tones, from light to dark. In this case, we selected a medium skin tone, and we say, quite up front, 'This is midrange.' We'll never know for sure what his exact skin tone was or the color of his eyes with 100 percent certainty.
"Maybe in the future, people will come to a different conclusion," Garcia continues. "From what we know, there is no doubt this individual was of North African descent."
That's not good enough for the activists, who demonstrated peacefully before an opening reception Wednesday and planned to protest again at today's opening.
"All we're asking," says Clegg, "is removal of those impostor busts, which have nothing to do with relics.
These people have w-a-a-a-y too much time on their hands........
These folks need to get a life.
Race racketeers are always looking for something to get their bollocks in an uproar...
Me too, Martin. Me too. But it ain't looking good.
The homosexuals should be chiming in to say that he was gay any second now.
Children don't need images, but real people living upright lives.
Mainly because their list of positive role models is quite short.
"What could be more exciting than a little black child that once ruled the world".
I'll tell you what could be more exciting, black folks quit blaming everyone else and become successful. Condi Rice is a great example of a black person that is successful and respected. Maybe these folks should look up to her and try to make their own place in history. :P
I guess the black race owes the descendants of Israelite slaves some massive reparations....
Thats a good one. More false self-esteem.
King Tut was a high achiever? He was a boy king who became king at 8 years old when his father died and married his sister/half sister and died when he was 18. BIG DEAL! Besides Forensics usually can tell if the person was white or black by the facial features. I am sure it was right on the money. These people need to learn something about forensics before they cry racism!
These Afro-centric whackjobs are a blight on the study of history.
Real historians know these loonies are a joke, but dare not say so publicly for fear of being labeled a "racist."
Steve Martin song King Tut:
King Tut (King Tut)
Now when he was a young man,
He never thought he’d see
People stand in line to see the boy king.
(King Tut) How’d you get so funky?
(funky Tut) Did you do the monkey?
Born in Arizona,
Moved to Babylonia (king Tut).
(king Tut) Now, if I’d known
they’d line up just to see you,
I’d trade in all my money
And bought me a museum. (king Tut)
Buried with a donkey (funky Tut)
He’s my favorite honkey!
Born in Arizona,
Moved to Babylonia (king Tut)
Dancin’ by the Nile, (Disco Tut)
The ladies love his style, (waltzing Tut)
Rockin’ for a mile (rockin’ Tut)
He ate a crocodile.
He gave his life for tourism.
Golden idol!
He’s an Egyptian
They’re sellin’ you.
Now, when I die,
don’t think I’m a nut,
don’t want no fancy funeral,
Just one like ole king Tut. (king Tut)
He coulda won a Grammy,
Buried in his Jammies,
Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia,
He was born in Arizona, lived in a condo made of stone-a,
King Tut!
We have a winner, post 12 !
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