by Runoko Rashidi Edited Co-Edited by Ivan Van SertimaAFRICANS in EARLY ASIA BU ame MILeA ECG yCoSe ee W ANS HUT as it is obsure. It covers a period of more than Tobe terete KOO ert beginning with the first Homo erectus migrations out of Africa. Both Peking and Java Man were only regional varieties of these early Africoid hominids. The story continues with the first modern human populations (Homo sapiens sapiens), the Di- minutive Blacks, who travelled and sojourned form one corner of Asia to the other, beginning perhaps 90,000 years ago. The Diminutive Blacks were followed by others of sl inecHi Na ne neuter tice Uri eat ates eed aceeT hair textures. Variously called Austrics, Austro-Asiat Mundas, Kolarians, and Veddas, these people were probably at DSrercer eaR UO Ree COMET Rene tor eater numbers throughout Asia. Tenth bios Oana ito Blacks were also the first in the development of Asia’s carly civilizations. The hard factual evidence has borne this out in case after case. Although the story of the black presence in early Asia is obscure, its documentation is by no means new, and the works of Drusilla D. Houston, Joel A. Rogers, and most recently, John G. Jackson, can be singled out for broadening CMe ROMA coe nC mrt tae MeN Cen Cette from which we can move forward. —Runoko Rashidi Cover design by Jacqueline Patten-Van SertimaAFRICAN PRESENCE EARLY ASIA Edited by Runoko Rashidi Co-Edited by Ivan Van Sertima From the Library ISACTION PUBLISHERS Brunswick (U.S.A.) and London (U.K.)Sixth printing 2007 Copyright © 1985 by Journal of African Civilizations Ltd., Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conven- tions, No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Transaction Publish- ers, Rutgers —The State University, 35 BerrueCircle, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8042. This book is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Stan- dard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ISSN: 0270-2495 Library of Congress Catalog Number: 85-8529 ISBN: 978-0-88738-717-3 (paper) Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Main entry under title: The African presence in carly Asia. (Journal of African Civilizations, 0270-2495; vol. 7, no. 1) 1, Africans — Asia— History — Addresses,essays, lectures. 2. Asia— Civilization — A fricaninfluences — Addresses,essays, lectures. 3 Asia— History — Addresses, essays, lectures. I. Van Sertima, Ivan. II. Series. DT14.J68 vol. 7, no. 1 [DS28.A35} 950 85-8529 ISBN: 0-88738-717-9 (pbk.)AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY ASIA (TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) porating Journal of African Civilizations August, 1995 (Vol. x, No. x) ko Rashidi to the Tenth Anniversary Edition Presence in Early Asia Rashidi Sertima and Tribute—The Passing of Giants: Jackson and Chancellor Williams u PRESENCE IN EARLY SOUTHWEST ASIA Civilization in Colchis on the Black Sea ique Ali Jairazbhoy AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY INDIA Script of the Indus Valley Civilization er A. Fairservis, Jr. in the Lotus: The Ethiopian Presence in the ed Buddha of India: Black Gods of Asia G. Jackson y Essay: Ancient Kushite Roots in India sy of the Works of Godfrey Higgins) Williams AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY FAR EAST ASIA. African Presence in Early China James E. Brunson AFRICAN BONDAGE IN EARLY ASIA c ntary: Black Bondage i in Asia Runoko Rashidi frican Bondage in Asian Lands Graham W. Irwin 10 13 2 59 65 81 107 113 121 138 1404 African Presence in Early Asia 14. Malik Ambar: African Regent Minister in India Joseph E. Harris 146 15. Research Note: The Case of the Habashis of the Dakan Omar Khalidi 153 16. African Dynasties in India: A Selected Bibliography of the Siddis Runoko Rashidi 155 THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY ASIA — PART TWO 17. People of the First World: Small Blacks in Africa and Asia Runoko Rashidi and James E. Brunson 158 18. More Light on Sumer, Elam and India Runoko Rashidi 162 19, The Blackheads of Sumer: A Bibliography Compiled by Runoko Rashidi 172 20. Blacks and Jews in Historical Interaction: The Biblical/ African Experience 177 21. Africa and Palestine in Antiquity Charles S. Finch, III 186 22. Sitting at the Feet of the Forerunner: An April 1987 Interview with John G. Jackson Runoko Rashidi and James E. Brunson 197 23. Unexpected Faces in Barly Asia: A Photo Essay James E. Brunson 205 DALITS: THE BLACK UNTOUCHABLES OF INDIA 24. Cheikh Anta Diop and the Search for Cultural Roots of Dalits V.T. Rajshekar 233 25. The Black Untouchables of India: Reclaiming our Cultural Heritage V.T. Rajshekar 235 26. Dalits: The Black Untouchables of India Runoko Rashidi 243 27. The Historical Unity of Africans and Dalits A Selected Bibliography Compiled by Runoko Rashidi 246 THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY ASIA — PART THREE 28. Researching the African Presence in Asia: The Challenge Ahead of Us. Chancellor James Williams 250bute to a Forerunner: A Selected Bibliography of John Glover Jackson (April 1, 1907-October 13, 1993) oneer Contributions to the Documentation of the African ence in Early Asia: 1833-1918 inoko Rashidi and James Brunson AND THE ISLAMIC WORK OF ASIA ny and Bronze: Race and Ethnicity in Early Arabia d the Islamic Works in Asia ayne B. Chandler earch Notes: Ancient Cities beneath the Arabian Sands oko Rashidi ‘African Presence in Early Arabia and the Islamic World ia: A Selected Bibliography piled by Runoko Rashidi FURTHER LIGHT ON THE FAR EAST ck Shogun: The African Presence in Japanese Antiquity es E. Brunson, Runoko Rashidi and Wallace Magsby Black Presence in Classical Southeast Asian Civilization oko Rashidi tive Africoids: First People of the Philippines oko Rashidi Principle of Polarity B. Chandler : Founder and First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism B. Chandler RESEARCH NOTES an Presence in the Art and Architecture of phical Notes on Contributors 252 254 E LIGHT ON THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN EARLY ARABIA 270 312 314 316 331 354 360 378 379 380 382 391Acknowledgements In addition to the authors listed in the table of contents, as is the case with any major undertaking, it is the collective contributions of many people, organizations and institutions that guarantee a successful final product. Afri- can Presence in Early Asia is no exception, and although it would take an entire book to acknowledge everyone’s input, the Journal of African Civiliza- tions would like to formally recognize the following persons and organiza- tions for special work done or special permission given to make this book possible: Dr. Joseph E. Harris, for permission to reprint the chapter “Malik Ambar” from The African Presence in Asia: Consequences of the East African Slave Trade, published by Northwestern University Press in 1971. The Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, for permis- sion to reprint “Blacks and Jews in Historical Interaction,” by Dr. Charles B. Copher, which appeared in its Fall 1975 issue. Scientific American, for permission to reprint “The Script of the Indus Valley Civilization,” by Dr. Walter A. Fairservis, which appeared in its March 1983 issue. Lee Williams, Dorothy Retamar, Kenneth Mitchell, Danita Redd-Terry, Dr. Regina L. Blackburn, Dr. Omowale Fowles, Njeri Khan, Naeem Deskins and Jacquetta Y. Parhams, for assistance in critically reviewing and proofing, important sections of the text. Laurence Rozier, Pili-Masani Anwabwile and J. Montgomery Pratt, for technical assistance. Clara Mann, Cris T. Clay and the Amon-Rah: African People’s Commu- nity Church, for material support. Ndugu James Cage, for his assistance and cooperation in the John G. Jackson interviews. Rey. Raju Thomas, Rev. Masilamani Azariah, David Patrick, R. Elumalai, Bhagwan Das, Dr. Velu Annamalai and the Dalit Sahitya Akademy, for interviews and background materials on the Dalit. Shiho Fukui, for the translation of reference materials. Larry Obadele Williams, C. Martin, Jim Roberts, W. Paul Coates, Warren Jones II, Amani Anu, Peter E. Dawson, M.D., Jeff Jackson, Paris Williams, Osagyefo Kojo Ansante, Legrand H. Clegg Il, Roman Bunker, Lee Williams, Laurice Elaine Smith, Dr. Michael Hooser, Adisa Banjoko, Vulindlela I. Wobogo, Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Ill, Karen A. Johnson and the African Elders ‘Tribute Foundation, for reference materials, background information and bibliographic data.