Egypt-themed fraternity party sacrificed on altar of “cultural appropriation”
The forces of social justice self-righteousness have claimed another victim, as an ancient Egyptian-themed fraternity party was sacrificed on the altar of “cultural appropriation“.
The University of Michigan branch of Delta Sigma Phi recently deleted their Welcome Week party that was Ancient Egyptian themed due to backlash from the student body.The party asked students to “honor our Egyptian roots and join us on the night of September 1st to celebrate our newly built pyramid” and “come to Delta Sig as a mummy, Cleopatra or King Tut it doesn’t matter to us.”
This latest episode in cultural terror started after the group posted its invitation in Facebook, and a social justice scold decided to gut their attempt at campus fun and camaraderie with the the usual blade used to suppress fraternity fun: The charge of racism.
It has come to my attention that the brothers at Delta Sigma Phi at the University of Michigan are throwing a party to “honor [their] Egyptian roots.” In the description, they urged those coming to show up as “a mummy, Cleopatra, or King Tut” and wear your “best ancient Egyptian robe and headdress to party in the desert”. As an Egyptian, and one that has respect for various cultures and civilizations, this party is extremely offensive and disrespectful. It is more saddening to see students from the top public university in the United States engaging in these ignorant stereotypes. My Egyptian roots are far more significant than a simple costume or a lame party. I take pride in the grandeur of my people’s legacy and will not allow my culture to be appropriated for your entertainment.Although I’m not surprised and couldn’t expect more out of a white fraternity, the conversation still needs to be had. This ignorance and disrespect is not an isolated incident and it appears the white frats didn’t learn after Theta Xi’s “Hood Ratchet Thursday” party.
Here’s where being a long time student of Egyptology comes in handy. Yasmeen Afifi is under the assumption that white people are usurping ancient Egypt’s blackness. Recent DNA analysis of ancient Egyptian mummies show two intriguing historical markers:
1) Ancient Egyptians are descended from Europeans and populations in the area that now makes up Turkey.
The first ever full-genome analysis of Ancient Egyptians shows they were more Turkish and European than African.Scientists analysed ancient DNA from Egyptian mummies dating from 1400 BC to 400 AD and discovered they shared genes with people from the Mediterranean.They found that ancient Egyptians were closely related to ancient populations in the Levant – now modern day Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon.They were also genetically similar to Neolithic populations from the Anatolian Peninsula and Europe.The groundbreaking study used recent advances in DNA sequencing techniques to undertake a closer examination of mummy genetics than ever before.
2) Ancient Egyptian mummy genomes show an influx of “Sub-Saharan African” genomes after the Roman period. Translation: The presence of “black” ancestors in the genetic record increases only after the end of the pharaonic period…which concludes only after the death of the famed Cleopatra.
In conclusion: “Afro-centric” race-baiters have culturally appropriated ancient Egypt from my ancestors. The science is settled!
It is my greatest wish that Delta Sigma Phi reschedule their party. They can use the new data to show that they are not appropriating anybody’s culture. In fact, I give them my blessing to culturally appropriate my cultural heritage all they want.
Furthermore, if they do throw this party, I would like to send some money for beer. After all, ancient Egyptians invented beer.
And here is the song that they should start the dance with:
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