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GMUsername t1_j4py3i9 wrote

Good read. Recently visited the MLK museum and there were mentions of Muslim slaves, but nothing dived into more detail.

I hope the museum expands more on this and maybe has a special exhibit on it, I would love to learn more.

One thing that especially stuck out was that some churches in Georgia had been built to face East, which may have indicated that they were praying in the direction of Mecca, as Muslims still do today

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missannthrope1 t1_j4rla0t wrote

The first non-indigenous person to set foot on what is now Texas Arizona and New Mexico was a black. Muslim slave called Esteban de Dorantes.

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missannthrope1 t1_j4w8lgm wrote

Replying to ScientificHope (#1,397,310)

Because I read the book, Crossing the Continent 1527-1540: The Story of the First African-American Explorer of the American South, by Robert Goodwin who explains very clearly how the slave trade worked in the 16th century.

I've also done an enormous amount of research for a project on which I am working.

What are your bona fides?

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missannthrope1 t1_j4w9uk3 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,393,294)

Much of Africa was Islamic at the time, as this article clearly points out. Plus that he was born in Africa, then taken as a slave is pure conjecture He could have been born in Morocco to black Muslim slaves. He spoke Arabic, so a Muslim connection is clear.

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missannthrope1 t1_j4wb8p2 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,393,280)

True. Ponce de Leon and other explorers had blacks with them. Juan Garrido for one. There is also evidence of Africans in the New World before Columbus.

My point is Esteban was the first known African in these three American states. He survived incredible harsh conditions. His contribution to history is not well known at all.

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