Africans discovered America and the Caribbean Islands before Columbus according to evidence offered by some scholars. Professor Leo Wiener, of Harvard University, in his writings, The Presence of Negroes, claims blacks were in the Americas long before Columbus. His argument is based on the proliferation of statues that posses typical Negro features and African-like monuments located through Central America and the number of maroon colonies in Mexico. V. Riva Palacio was quoted in A.J. Rogers' Book of Amazing Facts saying, "It is indisputable that in very ancient times...the Negro race occupied our territory (Mexico) when the two continents were joined. This race brought its own religious cults and idols. The Mexicans had a black god, Ixliton, which means black-faced".
The pre-existence of blacks in America before Columbus was supported by other historical accounts. According to author, James W. Loewen, "When Columbus reached Haiti, he found the Arawaks in possession of some spear points made of guanine. The Indians told members of Columbs' party that they got the guanine from black traders who had come from the South and East. Guanine proved to be an alloy of gold, silver and copper, identical to the gold alloy preferred by West Africans, who called it "guanine.". Islamic historians have recorded stories of black sailors going into the West. Genetic studies found that traces of diseases common in Africa were also found in pre-Columbian corpses in Brazil. Columbus' son, Ferdinand, who accompanied the admiral on his third voyage, reported that people he met or heard about in eastern Honduras, were"...almost black in color..." and probably African. The first Europeans to reach Panama, Balboa and company, reported seeing black slaves in an Indian town. The Indians reported they had captured them from a nearby black community".
Even if there had never been any reports of blacks in the Americas, their presence seems only logical. A look at the world globe suggests that Africans probably arrived in America before Europeans. If European explorers set out due west, they would land in Iceland or the extreme northern parts of the North American continent. If European explorers did not know where they were going why would they sail southwest, against the currents, to get to the Far East.
Contrarily, it was easier for African explorers to "discover" America because it is closer and directly west of the African continent.
The pre-existence of blacks in America before Columbus was supported by other historical accounts. According to author, James W. Loewen, "When Columbus reached Haiti, he found the Arawaks in possession of some spear points made of guanine. The Indians told members of Columbs' party that they got the guanine from black traders who had come from the South and East. Guanine proved to be an alloy of gold, silver and copper, identical to the gold alloy preferred by West Africans, who called it "guanine.". Islamic historians have recorded stories of black sailors going into the West. Genetic studies found that traces of diseases common in Africa were also found in pre-Columbian corpses in Brazil. Columbus' son, Ferdinand, who accompanied the admiral on his third voyage, reported that people he met or heard about in eastern Honduras, were"...almost black in color..." and probably African. The first Europeans to reach Panama, Balboa and company, reported seeing black slaves in an Indian town. The Indians reported they had captured them from a nearby black community".
Even if there had never been any reports of blacks in the Americas, their presence seems only logical. A look at the world globe suggests that Africans probably arrived in America before Europeans. If European explorers set out due west, they would land in Iceland or the extreme northern parts of the North American continent. If European explorers did not know where they were going why would they sail southwest, against the currents, to get to the Far East.
Contrarily, it was easier for African explorers to "discover" America because it is closer and directly west of the African continent.
Comment