The African Presence in Ancient America

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Identify and discuss the evidence presented by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima that there was an African presence in Ancient America before the coming of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans in 1492. The first diaspora was the African diaspora. Studies prove life started on the continent of Africa. Africans then dispersed voluntarily and involuntarily. There has always been controversy about whether or not Africans were first in the Americas through slavery, which has been proven to be false. Evidence has proved Africans traveled the Americas at least fifty (50) years before Columbus and the Europeans in 1492. Dr. Ivan Van Sertima supports this theory and provides evidence in his book They Came before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America. The African craft of seven boats to sail the Niger, twenty boats to sail the Nile, and twelve boats to sail the Indian Ocean were proof that they [Africans], traveled and possibly landed in the Americas. Dr. Ivan Van Sertima speaks of Christopher Columbus’ diary, which spoke of his many voyages and discoveries. After his second voyage, the Portuguese informed Columbus of Africans in large boats with merchandise sailing west of the Cape Verde islands. The Portuguese were aware of African navigation because they had been in Africa since 1415. Not only did the Portuguese tell Columbus of Africans but Natives in the Olmec civilization spoke of Africans as well. The Olmec civilization, was the first civilization established in the Americas. The Olmec’s told in many instances of seeing African peoples. Verbally, natives told Columbus of seeing African peoples, who they perceived as Gods with gold spears, chains and crowns. Visually, The Olmec’s created stone heads depicting the African peoples they met, and placed these stone heads at their holy sites. Next, there was physical evidence of the Africans being in the Americas.
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