Final answer:
Noah's reflection on feeling special about being white ties into the historical misinterpretation of the Curse of Ham, which was used to justify racial oppression and supremacy, reflecting the deep-seated racial prejudice and identity complexities in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Noah mentions feeling special to know that he was white, he reflects on the historical and social significance of race and how it has been used to justify systems of oppression like slavery. This understanding is connected to the Curse of Ham, traditionally misinterpreted to suggest a divine sanction for the subjugation of people with darker skin, particularly of African descent. The subsequent passages explore the implications of these racially charged interpretations and how they influenced the social construct of race, justifying the enslavement of Black people and perpetuating the myth of white superiority. Furthermore, as highlighted by various authors, these beliefs pervaded many aspects of society and contributed to deeply ingrained racial prejudices and a complex racial identity in America, with discriminatory narratives continuing to affect the dynamics between people of different races.