Early America Revisited

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Early America Revisited is a vigorous defense and amplification of They Came Before Columbus. The book is a carefully balanced case for an African presence in America before Columbus' voyages, by Africans from the Mandingo empire of Mali, as well as for an Egypto-Nubian presence in both Central and South America before the Christian era. At the same time, the work is in no way a denial of the importance of the Columbus voyages for opening up the New World to Europe and, hence, changing the economic and political map of the world for all time.

The critical cutting edge of the book is that there is an anthropological and ethnographic dimension to the process of discovery; one in which black Africans of non-European origins played a central role.

Van Sertima marshals the literary and pictorial evidence and shows its authenticity to be beyond question. The pre-Columbian period is not just a matter of dating, but of discovery. The impact of these early discoveries are of far more than historical interest. They serve as a basis to examine anew the study of culture contacts between civilizations. And in so doing, offer a serious base to a multifaceted re-examination of earlier hypotheses of influences in both directions. (84 illus.)

Commentary by Dr. Irving Horowitz - Early America Revisited

Early America Revisited is a vigorous defense and amplification of Ivan Van Sertima's classic work, They Came Before Columbus. The book is a carefully balanced case for an African presence in America before Columbus' voyages, by Africans from the Mandingo empire of Mali, as well as for an Egypto-Nubian presence in both Central and South America before the Christian era. At the same time, the work is in no way a denial of the importance of the Columbus voyages for opening up the New World to Europe, and hence changing the economic and political map of the world for all time.

The critical cutting edge of the book is that there is an anthropological and ethnographic dimension to the process of discovery; one in which black Africans of non-European origins played a central role. Van Sertima marshals the literary and pictorial evidence and shows its authenticity to be beyond question. The Pre-Columbian period is not just a matter of dating, but of discovery. The impact of these early discoveries are of far more than historical interest. They serve as a basis to examine, anew, the study of culture contacts between civilizations. And in so doing, offer a serious base to a multifaceted re-examination of earlier hypotheses of influences in both directions.

Van Sertima makes it plain that Early America Revisited is more than a stack of evidence about the physical presence of Africans in pre-Columbian America, it is the study of how two peoples and cultures can lead to cross fertilization. But it also indicates that the borrowing of artifacts and ideas does not constitute a claim that the outsider is superior to the native, or that the indigenous cultures are insignificant. He does contend that such relationships can be unpleasant as well as pleasant, conflictual as well as consensual. But, whatever the character of the interaction, its very existence merits awareness.

This is a book likely to engender further disputes and disagreements. But there is no question that it will enrich the study of a wide range of subjects, from archaeology to anthropology, and result in profound changes in the reordering of historical priorities and pedagogy. It should be of wide interest to social scientists, historians, and all those for whom the question of race and culture is a central facet of their own work and lives.

Ivan Van Sertima served as professor of African Studies at Rutgers University for more than thirty years. He served as visiting professor at Princeton University and lectured at more than one hundred colleges and universities across the world, repeatedly. He is also editor of the Journal of African Civilizations. His edited works, strongly related to the theme of this book, have greatly changed the way in which African history and culture is taught and studied.

Jacqueline L. Patten-Van Sertima is photographic consultant, art director and cover designer for this book, as well as for all volumes of the Journal. Among her many exhibitions, her award-winning photography has also been showcased at The Museum of the City of New York, the National Urban League, Columbia University, Barnes and Noble, Pfizer, Inc., the Durst Organization, and many galleries across the country. Her publications include The Black Photographers Annual and Black Photographers: An Illustrated Bio-Bibliography 1940-1987.

—Dr. Irving Horowitz

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