Hmmm—

The term “Semite” is historically and linguistically associated with a group of languages known as the Semitic languages, which include Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, and several others. The term originally referred to people who spoke these languages, stemming from a classification of languages proposed in the 18th century.

The use of the term “Semite” to denote an ethnic or racial group is a development from this linguistic origin, often connected to the descendants of Shem, one of Noah’s sons mentioned in the Bible. In this context, it has been applied to peoples historically associated with the Near East or the Fertile Crescent, which includes parts of the modern-day Middle East and Northeast Africa.

The concept of “Semite” as it is often used today is primarily in reference to Jews in the context of anti-Semitism. This term is a misnomer when used to denote a specific racial group because the Semitic language family spans a diverse range of peoples and ethnicities, including many who are not Jewish and who have a variety of skin colors and physical features.

When it comes to Black people, the term “Semite” isn’t typically relevant to their ethnic or linguistic identification unless they specifically belong to a group that historically speaks a Semitic language, such as Ethiopians or Eritreans who speak Amharic or Tigrinya, languages that are part of the Semitic language family.

In summary, while some Black people can be considered “Semites” if they speak a Semitic language or trace their heritage to a Semitic-speaking culture, the term is not broadly applicable to all Black people. It’s important to recognize that the concept of race is distinct from linguistic and ethnic classifications and that “Semite” as a term has been subject to various interpretations and misapplications throughout history.

What are some Semitic languages?

Semitic languages are part of a language family whose living representatives are predominantly spoken in the Middle East and parts of the Horn of Africa. Some of the most well-known Semitic languages include:

1. Arabic: The most widely spoken Semitic language today, with numerous dialects across the Arab world.
2. Hebrew: The language of the Jewish people, revitalized as a spoken language in the modern state of Israel.
3. Amharic: The official language of Ethiopia, with millions of speakers.
4. Tigrinya: Spoken in Eritrea and northern Ethiopia.
5. Aramaic: Once the lingua franca of the Near East, now only spoken by small communities in the Middle East.
6. Maltese: The national language of Malta, which evolved from an Arabic dialect but has been heavily influenced by Italian and English.
7. Akkadian: An extinct language that was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia.
8. Phoenician: Another extinct language, historically spoken by the Phoenician people.

These languages share certain structural similarities and a common linguistic heritage. They have been significant in the history of the Near East and have influenced many other languages and cultures throughout the centuries.