African-American Studies

First article, by Don Luke tries to prove the African presence in the early history of British Isles and Scandinavia. The author claims that there is indisputable evidence of African presence and that this presence was not only physical but also profound and influential. The author initially gives historical evidence by referring to the work of various authors and tries to prove that ancient Egyptians might have conquered parts of Northern Eurasia during the 12th dynasty period. He also refers to Africans entering Europe and Britain under Batrikus and later by Roman Emperor of African descent Septimus Severus. He then proves that many European historians have directly or indirectly acknowledged the African presence in early British history. The author further argued that the original inhabitants of Britain were Africoid and were perhaps the builders of the Stonehenge megaliths. The author compared the building techniques of the megaliths with that of ancient Egyptians and Nubians as their burial customs, which were in contrast with the cremation of early Aryan people like Celts.
   
Regarding Scandinavia, the author provided historical evidence of a heterogeneous population, similarity of deities, and African presence in the Old Norse folklore. The author further argued that the blacks were superior both culturally and technologically than the whites of that time.
   
In the second article the author Ivan van Sertima argued that Africans have had reached Mexico and contacted and influenced the Native American people of Olmec. The Olmec people are considered to be one of the earliest civilizations on the Americas and perhaps were the first to build the pyramids there. The author provides several evidences in favor of his arguments, which includes the colossal heads found in the primary Olmec cities, which bear striking resemblance with the Negroid features. He further provides the evidence that many of the males buried in these cities are of Negroid descent. Other evidence includes the timing of the building of these monuments coincides with the Nubian dynasty establishment, the cross of fertility, the helmets of colossal heads, the double crown, the royal flail, the sacred boat, the use of purple as a sacred color, feathered fans, the ceremonial umbrella, and of course the pyramids and their specific orientation. All these elements are the marks of the EgyptianNubian culture.
   
In the next three chapters the author have provided the proof of the African ancestry among prominent European nations, like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Central Europe, Spain, France and Germany etc. The author argued that blacks have been absorbed in the current so called white population by intermarriages or illicit sexual relationship throughout the middle ages and modern times. The author further provides evidence that there have been no racial prejudice among the western and near eastern nations, whether they were Christian or Muslim, as no faith distinguish between people on the basis of color.
   
The author further provides evidence of this lack of racial prejudice in the medieval European societies. He argues that Blacks rose high not among the common masses, but also among the nobility and royalty throughout Europe. Many blacks were favorites of many Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses during the Middle Ages and early modern era. Most were acquired, educated and trained with great affection by their masters and mistresses. As a result many of them rose prominent among the nobility and later mingled among the white nobility population of Europe. The same was the case of common masses and intermarriages and attraction of European women toward Negro males led to many intermarriages and colored children.
   
The same was the case of the United States where intermarriages resulted in millions of white Negros who were later absorbed in the original white population as they were practically indistinguishable with the original whites.