Back on the trail--Were Africans in the New World before Columbus

"Some historians propound that there was a pre-Columbian African presence in Mexico under the Olmec civilization. These scholars cite African features in the art of the Olmecs and linguistic similarities between indigenous and West African languages as their evidence. However, most traditional historians are skeptical of this school of thought. "I think the whole issue is still wide open, and the best we can do right now is to have an open mind on it," says Palmer."

--African legacy. By: Fleming, Mali Michelle, Gleaton, Tony, Hispanic, 08983097, Jan/Feb1994, Vol. 7, Issue 1

And who is Palmer?

Colin A. Palmer is a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.