A fairly common accusation leveled at believers of British-Israelism, the belief that the lost ten tribes of Israel can be found among the Anglo-Saxon peoples of Northwestern Europe, North America, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, is that it is a fundamentally racist idea. It is understandable that some would reach this conclusion, considering that such modern Israelites could claim to be God's chosen people and heirs to the spectacular physical promises God made to Abraham. Not far from this is the seemingly logical conclusion that other ethnic groups do not measure up, and those of a weak and prejudicial nature could carry this to the point of snubbing, abusing, or persecuting individuals of these supposedly lesser ethnicities. Sadly, some advocates of British-Israelism have done just this, casting a negative light on other believers who do not share their racially motivated hatred and violence. Among these are fringe groups linked to the Identity Movement and Aryan and Neo-Nazi factions, who direct their spite predominantly at blacks and Jews, but also at Asians, Hispanics, and generally anyone not deemed as pureblooded as they claim to be. Their anti-Semitism is ironic, as Jews are just as much Israelites as they assert themselves to be. They justify this by claiming that Jews are not who they say they are, asserting there is little Jewish blood in modern Jewry and that they are instead descended from either Esau or Ashkenaz, son of Gomer, son of Japheth, or have been totally mongrelized due to a supposed worldwide conspiracy to control banking, industry, and government. They rely heavily on the fraudulent Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and even subvert Scripture to their cause, granting them an air of legitimacy that is, in reality, a total sham. However, the irrationality of a handful of extremists does not malign the majority of sincere believers who base their understanding on different principles.

The belief known as British-Israelism holds that the Anglosphere—comprising Britain, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—descends from the biblical patriarch Joseph. Specifically, America is seen as deriving from Joseph's firstborn, Manasseh, while the other nations descend from his second son, Ephraim. According to Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 48:19, these descendants form two major world powers, with Manasseh as a single great nation and Ephraim as a multitude of nations. The United States of America stands as the greatest single nation in terms of wealth and power the world has ever witnessed, while the British Empire, in its prime, was even greater in scope and control, dominating politically and economically. These brother nations, united by common ancestry beyond just language, have collaborated for nearly two centuries to shape world affairs. The names of Joseph's sons, as recorded in Genesis 41:50-52, carry significant meaning: Manasseh, meaning forgetful or making forgetful, reflects a tendency to leave the past behind, evident in America's national character from its colonial beginnings. Early colonists sought to escape religious and governmental persecution and economic hardship, focusing on forging a new life rather than dwelling on what came before. This forgetfulness is embedded in America's founding documents, which reject European governance for a new form of republicanism, and in policies like the Monroe Doctrine, which further isolated the nation from European affairs. However, this trait has a downside, as it leads to repeating historical mistakes, with cycles of similar errors across generations and persistent struggles in addressing national issues. Ephraim, meaning fruitful or productive, embodies the remarkable achievements of its people, who, from the small isle of England, built a vast trade and industrial empire, governing far-flung lands and peoples for generations. Their productivity, disproportionate to their homeland's size, aligns with the prophetic naming, showcasing a legacy of resourcefulness and global influence. Through Jacob's blessing, Joseph received the firstborn's portion of Israel's inheritance, and it was primarily upon his descendants that God's physical promises of wealth and power to Abraham were fulfilled.

The concept of British-Israelism suggests that the lost ten tribes of Israel, led by the half-tribes of Joseph, can be traced to Britain and northwestern Europe. God promised to sift the house of Israel among all nations, yet not the smallest grain would fall to the ground, indicating their continued existence. Biblical directions, understood from the vantage point of Jerusalem, point to Israel living primarily in the north and northwest, in areas such as islands and coastlands around the North Sea. These clues describe a sea-dominating nation, far from Jerusalem, involved in colonization due to population growth and prosperity. Britain fits these criteria, suggesting that Israelites, particularly of the birthright tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, are found there. Further evidence lies in place names across Europe carrying the name of Dan, one of the tribes, such as Denmark, meaning Dan's Land, and various rivers like the Don and Danube. Names hold significant meaning in Scripture, as God names things what they are. Prophecies in Genesis indicate that Israel's descendants would be called by the name of Isaac, with terms like Sakai, Sacae, and eventually Saxon, believed to derive from Isaac, pointing to the Anglo-Saxon peoples in northwestern Europe and their colonies. This supports the idea that the lost tribes of Israel are identifiable in these regions through biblical, historical, and linguistic evidence.