Ivan Van Sertima: My Historical Guide and Mentor
by Joel A. Freeman

My interest in Black history was launched in earnest about 42+ years ago in 1980 when some Black pro athletes asked me questions about the role ancient Africans played in biblical and extra biblical history.

I didn’t have a clue. I began researching the topic so that I could at least respond somewhat intelligently to the plethora of topics that came up.

I was one of the first chaplains in the history of the NBA, starting in 1978 with the Washington Bullets and retiring 20 seasons later in 1998.

I had heard of Ivan Van Sertima (pictured right) and had seen some old, grainy VHS videos of Ivan either in a debate or lecturing. I knew that he was a professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University and was revered as a man of great intellect and integrity.

In the early 1990s I somehow got ahold of his home phone number and I called him. This was during the pre-digital era. His wife, Jaqueline, answered. I asked to speak to Ivan. Even though she put her hand over the receiver, I could hear her whispering to him about some White gentleman wanting to talk with him.

When he came on the phone, I said, “Hello, Ivan, I have heard a lot about you and I would like to get to know you. I have much to learn from you. And I would hope that you would like to get to know me also.”

We talked for at least 45 minutes in that first encounter. A great conversation. He made me feel at ease and extremely comfortable. Near the end of the conversation, he asked for my home address. I didn’t think anything of it and gave it to him.

Approximately 3 weeks later a big box filled with at least 15 volumes of his books arrived unexpectedly in the mail. I was blown away. There were topics about Black presence in Asia, the Olmec civilization, They came before Columbus, the Moors and so much more.

The one book that immediately grabbed my attention was Egypt Revisited. Reading that book and seeing the images was kind of like wrapping my brain around a telephone pole at 130 mph. A life changing experience. So much so that, after a few chapters, I called Ivan.

After thanking him profusely for such a kind gift of knowledge in literature, I asked him if he would consider becoming my primary historical guide and mentor. To my great surprise, he consented.

Wow!! The many conversations we had as the months and years passed!! I only wish I could explain the essence of hours upon hours of discussing wide-ranging topics germane to ancient African history. He was extremely patient with me, allowing me to ask any and all questions ricocheting about in my little pea brain.

In the video taped presentations I had seen, Ivan was powerful and authoritative, holding the audience in the palm of his hand. In our phone conversations he was almost shy. I had to “prime the pump” with questions and then he would go into great, elegant detail with me. I’d listen and take notes.

Our friendship deepened. For instance, it was a great privilege and honor when Ivan opened up with me about some of the struggles and disrespect he was experiencing in the world academia. I will not go into detail, but he was very sad at times by the way some powerful leaders actively sought to marginalize him. Even though we never met physically, we became very good friends. He gave me a front row seat to his journey.

Every Christmas I would receive a signed card from him and Jacqueline.

One memorable conversation was when I asked him about his view of the Jesus of the Bible. Many Afrocentric scholars point to a number of legitimate, historically documented problems they have with how Christianity was used to justify enslavement and the Slave Trade itself.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure how Ivan would respond. There was a moment of silence and then he said quietly and with great emotion, “Oh yes, I love Jesus with all my heart.”

That meant more to me than anything else he could’ve said at that moment. He then went on to eloquently describe the impact of Augustine, Cyprian, Tertullian and other 2nd to 4th century Christian scholars — especially in North Africa — long before the travels of European explorers into central Africa starting in the mid-1800s.

Ivan passed away in 2009. Thirteen years have passed and I still miss him, our conversations and friendship greatly.