Columbus Day is observed every year on the second Monday of October. It is a day to commemorate Christopher Columbus’s discovery—or more accurately put, his re-discovery—of the Americas. It is important to accept that he was really adventuring on pre owned land so that we can learn to honor those who were here before him. For many years, Columbus has been celebrated as a great explorer, and has also become a symbol of the pride Italian-Americans take in their ancestry. With that in mind, it is important to acknowledge that the holiday important to so many Italian-Americans reminds others of the violence and brutality that native people faced upon his arrival in the Americas.
To start off the school year, the 11th grade U.S History classes have been learning about early encounters between Eurpoean explorers and native populations, including the arrival of Columbus in the west Indies during the early parts of the international slave trade. During this time, according to history.com, “Columbus and his men forced the Taino to work on plantations and mine for gold—and shipped others to Spain to be sold… And under his rule… the Spaniards committed savage acts of slaughter, torture and sexual violence against the peaceful Taino.” Although European diseases also played a role in the destruction of native people, the physical violence of Columbus and his men contributed to many of the lives lost.
So after acknowledging the terrible acts that Columbus and his men committed, what can we do to honor the legacy of Native Americans? One way the American population is doing this is by changing the name of the holiday to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” As of October 12th, 2020, according to USAToday.com “Fourteen states and more than 130 cities, observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day.” Honoring Native Americans is more than just changing the name of the holiday, though; As expressed to NPR by Baley Champegne “‘It’s about celebrating people instead of thinking about somebody who… tried to cause the genocide of an entire population. By bringing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re bringing awareness that we’re not going to allow someone like that to be glorified into a hero, because of the hurt that he caused to Indigenous people of America.’”
As we get the day off school to honor this holiday every year, it is important to take time out to think about what it really means to see history from both sides. Being able to see and understand another’s perspective is an important life skill that will be of value beyond the realm of high school. So whether you read an article about indigenous people, or look deeper into the true actions of Columbus, do it with an open mind and a desire to learn. I encourage you to spark conversation with family and friends so you can help each other grow and continue to learn this October.
