Before Christopher Columbus, Africans arrived in the Americas. A full two centuries prior to Christopher Columbus “discovering” the Americas, evidence suggests that West Africans had already traveled over the Atlantic to reach the New World.
Okay, let’s take a step back and discuss the definition of “discovery” alone. The act or process of discovering someone or something or learning about something previously unknown is what the term means, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The argument is that contrary to what most people assume, the existence of black people in America may not have originated with slavery.
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What Really Happened?
It was in 1492 when Christopher Columbus first set foot on American soil. He set out from Europe in search of a shorter way to Asia, but instead, he discovered the Americas. Columbus Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday in October in honor of the man who gained fame as the discoverer of the Americas.
The second ruler of the ancient West African country of Mali is Mansa Abu Bakar II. An intelligent man, Mansa Abu Bakar wanted to explore what was beyond the Atlantic Ocean. In 1311, he sent a contingent of soldiers armed with abundant food and supplies to explore the ocean’s boundaries on board two hundred ships. He said that nothing must be returned to them until they discover what is beyond the Atlantic Ocean.
According to legend, when asked what occurred, the captain of the lone ship stated, “We went for a long time, and there arose in the open sea a river with a violent stream.” Thus, the legend goes. Upon reaching that location, the other ships continued forward without returning or being seen again.
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Thus, King Abu Bakari II entrusted the crown to his brother Mansa Musa and set off on an exploration of his own. He stocked the ships with food, water, animals, gold, and other goods and assembled two thousand ships.
Since they didn’t return, we must wonder whether they made it to the Americas. The answer seems to be yes, based on the data that contemporary historians, archaeologists, and scholars are uncovering.
It’s About Time This Changed…
Everything points to it. Books and articles are available. The main issue is that historical accounts are often produced from a European viewpoint. Black people have done remarkable things since the beginning of time, but we have been led to think otherwise due to our brainwashing. In that case, why isn’t any of this included in the curriculum? For whatever reason, these documents will never be included in the textbooks that students use to study the past.
This is part of our new series, “Hidden Gems in Black History,” where we highlight uncommon facts throughout Black history. Join us every day during Black History Month for interesting facts about Black people and places you likely haven’t heard before!
