Did you mean punctuation?

Because of this book.

Crossing the Continent 1527-1540: The Story of the First African-American Explorer of the American South, by Robert Goodwin.

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.

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.

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?

Did he convert, or was he converted?

The article cited does not equiviate. If slave were Muslim, brought to the US, they were still Muslim.

Did he convert, or was he converted? There's no way of knowing how devout he was in either religion, or if he was religious at all.

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.

Happy Anzac Day.

Last time I checked, everyone makes mistakes. If you didn't feel bad about it, you'd be a psychopath. You will never do it again, and council others to never make the same mistake. That makes you a teacher.

The sign the panicdemic is truly over!