In Genesis, Ham is the son described as seeing his father Noah uncovered.
Genesis 9:20–23 says Noah became drunk after planting a vineyard and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers, while Shem and Japheth covered Noah without looking at him. The episode follows the Flood narrative and the covenant with Noah.
The passage then records Noah’s curse on Canaan, Ham’s son, and blessings involving Shem and Japheth. Readers often incorrectly describe the text as cursing Ham himself; Genesis 9:25 specifically names Canaan. Interpretations of the episode have varied greatly across Jewish and Christian history.
Later attempts to use this story to justify racial slavery are not supported by the passage’s wording. Genesis does not mention race, Africa, or slavery in this episode, and the “curse of Ham” label is a later interpretive tradition.