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On the second Monday of October, the nation observes Columbus Day, commemorating Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. This federal holiday means that non-essential government workers get a day off, and institutions like banks, DMVs, and post offices close their doors. For many, Columbus Day is just another holiday—either a welcome break or an inconvenience that delays errands.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we learned about Columbus back in school. In 1492, he famously sailed with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Columbus, an Italian, believed the world was round, a fact that was widely accepted at the time. His primary goal was to find a direct route to Asia for its riches, not to discover a new world. After being denied funding by several European monarchs, he finally secured support from Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, offering them a share of the profits and a commitment to convert indigenous peoples to Catholicism—a clear indication of colonialism.
Let’s be clear: Columbus did not “discover” America. He landed in the Bahamas, where the native population had already been living for centuries. The island was known as Guanahani by its inhabitants, and it’s likely that he landed on what we now call San Salvador. The reality is that Columbus was unaware he had encountered a new continent; he thought he had reached India, which is why the Caribbean is referred to as the “West Indies.”
The Dark Legacy of Christopher Columbus
Instead of celebrating the so-called discovery of new lands, we should confront the painful reality of Columbus’s actions. He is not a hero; he initiated a cycle of violence and oppression against Native Americans. The term “discovery” is misleading when applied to a land already inhabited by indigenous peoples. Columbus’s expeditions led to the enslavement of thousands of native people, and his quest for gold resulted in horrific abuses, including forced labor and violence.
On his second voyage, Columbus ordered the enslavement of hundreds of indigenous people, with a tragic number dying en route to Spain. This is not a legacy to celebrate. The consequences of his actions included widespread suffering and the beginning of a long history of genocide against Native American communities.
Recent archaeological findings have confirmed that humans inhabited the Americas long before Columbus’s arrival, dating back at least 23,000 years. This evidence further underscores the absurdity of claiming Columbus “discovered” anything. In fact, the Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached North America centuries earlier, with evidence of Viking settlements in Canada.
Is Columbus Day a Valid Holiday?
Columbus Day originated in 1892, partly as a response to the lynching of Italian Americans in New Orleans, aiming to celebrate Italian heritage and assimilation into American society. However, the legacy associated with Columbus is one of genocide and cultural erasure, raising the question of whether this holiday should exist at all.
Many places have replaced Columbus Day with “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” or similar observances to honor the cultures and histories of Native Americans. Instead of lamenting a closed post office, we should take the time to understand the true history of the land we inhabit.
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- Columbus Day history
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In summary, Columbus Day, rooted in a problematic history, deserves reconsideration in light of the real impact of Columbus’s actions on indigenous peoples. It’s time to recognize and celebrate the true history of the land we now call home.