Welcome to Season 2 of The Coin: Black History on the Other Side, hosted by Brittany Wilkins. We appreciate you tuning in to the show. Today, we delve into our legacy series, honoring the architects and trailblazers of black history, acknowledging their pivotal contributions in reshaping the narrative of black heritage. On this day, January 26, 1935, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima was born in Guyana, South America. His academic journey began at the London University School of Oriental and African Studies, where he initiated his studies in black studies, later attending Rutgers Graduate School, earning degrees in African studies and anthropology. For avid listeners, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima may be familiar, as our most popular podcast series is based on his book, "They Came Before Columbus," uncovering the African presence in Ancient America prior to Christopher Columbus' arrival. If it’s your first time listening to the show again welcome, I encourage you to listen to episode 3 of season 2 They Came Before Columbus where I discuss the Mandingo traders in medieval Mexico.
Ivan Van Sertima's Early Career:
In the early years of his career, Dr. Van Sertima served as a press and broadcast professional for Guyana Information Services, reaching audiences weekly from Britain to Africa and the Caribbean. Establishing himself as a literary critic, linguist, and anthropologist, he authored "Caribbean Writers," a collection of critical essays on the Caribbean novel. Additionally, he published major literary reviews, gaining global exposure in Denmark, India, Britain, and the United States. As a linguist, his essays on the dialect of the Sea Islands off the Georgia Coast and his book, "Early America Revisited," contributed to the study of archaeology and anthropology on a broad spectrum of subjects.
Contributions to the Field of African Civilization:
In 1979, Dr. Van Sertima founded The Journal of African Civilizations, playing a pivotal role in the development of multicultural curriculum in the United States. As the editor, he published anthologies that evolved into books such as "Great African Thinkers," "African Presence in Asia," and "Golden Age of the Moor," among others.
In addition to being an accomplished writer, he served as a professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University from 1972 to 2005. His teachings extended beyond Rutgers, as he lectured at over 100 universities in the United States and across the globe, including Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe.
Dr. Van Sertima's work did not come without criticism or controversy. On July 7, 1987, he appeared before a congressional committee to challenge the myth of Christopher Columbus. In 1991, he defended his thesis on the African presence in pre-Columbian America before the Smithsonian.
Conclusion:
Reflecting on the career of Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, I am in awe of his work. For much of life I've only known one side of history which has not been as favorable in teaching black history in a positive light. He has erected pillars of black history that stand the test of time, educating generations about the true history of the diaspora, its people, and cultures at various stages across the world. The responsibility now rests on us to continue building upon this history, as many in our community still lack knowledge or understanding of their origins and the path ahead.