The Carthaginians were originally Phoenician, the name the Greeks gave to the seafaring inhabitants of northern Canaan. As a Canaanite, Hannibal would have spoken a Canaanite language closely related to ancient Phoenician and Hebrew otherwise known as the Carthaginian tongue. The Carthaginian alphabet was basically Phoenician, the oldest alphabet in the world.
He wasn't black. He would have been closer related to modern native Lebanese people and Jews than blacks. Being from Africa does not equal being black. He was probably Near Eastern. Indigenous North Africans, the Berbers and others, aren't even what you'd call black.
Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of ancient times. His army was the first to cross the Alps on elephants in order to invade Rome in the Punic Wars. Even the Romans seem to have admired him as a worthy adversary although he was defeated and Carthage burned. We have Roman busts of General Hannibal that may suggest this.
In conclusion, Hannibal was a ruthless warmonger who probably shouldn't be admired by people who wish for peace in the world. But he was most definitely of Canaanite/Phoenician lineage.
Agree? Disagree? Weigh the evidence and decide for yourself. It's an interesting historical subject to consider.
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