The most important point Van Sertima attempts to drive into the minds of his readers is that a presence other than European came to and influenced ancient American culture. This is the primary thesis asserted by the author. In his work "They Came Before Columbus" Ivan Van Sertima proposes that native Africans. While many of his works still remain controversial at best they do insight much discussion and examination of the African influence and presence in early American artifacts. Since the first publishing of They Came Before Columbus Van Sertima has gone on to publish multiple works regarding African presence in early America and the contributions Africans have made to world civilization. Subsequent authors have gone on to confirm Sertima's assertions, suggesting that an African presence did indeed exist in ancient America before European influenced touched the soil (Khpera, 2001). Still it is difficult to argue with Sertima particularly in They Came Before Columbus simply because the work provided by the author is so detailed and provides the reader with many rich examples of African influence on early American culture. There are many critics who suggest that Sertima reads too much into his findings.
Ivan Van Sertima is not without criticism. Many refer to They Came Before Columbus as a "groundbreaking, historical work an literary hallmark" with ideas and themes that defy conventional wisdom (Rashidi, 2003). His ideas in fact help reshape or reconstruct the place African's hold in world history, suggesting that Africans have more influence than one might initially believe. Among his better known works include "They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America." This work follows the trail of the African as Sertima puts it through "every corner of the new world" and attempts to "set the record straight" regarding African presence in Ancient America (Rashidi, 2003).
Educated at London University Van Sertima is now considered a literary critic, anthropologist and linguist (Rashidi, 2003). Ivan Van Sertima's They Came Before Columbus: Critical Reviewīorn in a small village in Guyana South America in 1935, Ivan Van Sertima has established himself as an unrelenting scholar in the field of African history (Rashidi, 2003).
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