*I wrote this article a few years ago for a popular museum blog. I think my conclusions still ring true- Christopher Columbus was a product of his time, and we should be careful in what we teach future generations about him. And, WOW! What a jerk! By honoring Columbus Day, we are dishonoring many others.
In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
(Full poem below).
Most of us remember learning this famous Christopher Columbus poem in elementary school as part of our Columbus Day education. We learned early on that Columbus “discovered” America while hoping to find a simple western route to trade with India and China. To many of us, Columbus was a historical hero, a true Bohemian, as were most other explorers we learned about. As kids, we ate up that sense of adventure! Who didn’t want to be a discoverer of someplace new?
However, in real life, Columbus had some very strong motives and not such a great track record. Columbus was motivated by conquest plus gold and spices, two very hot commodities in Europe at the time coming in from the Far East. Instead of finding his way to China and India, Columbus landed with his 3 ships in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. On his first day on land, Columbus already had in mind to convert the local “Indians” to Christianity and make some of them his servants.
In his journal that day, he wrote, “It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it pleases our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language.”
After establishing the first colony at an island he named Hispaniola, Columbus became the first governor and viceroy of the West Indies. He enslaved the local natives to help establish his foothold in the region and to help look for and mine for gold to send back to Spain. According to History.com, recent research shows Columbus quelled several native rebellions with intense violence. He also sent thousands of Taino Indians from Hispaniola to Spain to be sold into European slavery.
The European explorers also brought numerous contagious diseases to the “New World.” Illnesses like small pox and measles spread to epidemic levels and all but wiped out many of the native populations.
So, back to the issue of celebrating Columbus Day. Was Christopher Columbus a product of his time and place? Yes. Should he still be celebrated as a hero today and his accomplishments be recognized by a national holiday even though he was ruthless and beyond disrespectful to the native peoples he encountered? I think we should be very careful about what we teach the next generation.
In 1492
In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.
Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.
Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.
Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.
October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!
“Indians! Indians!” Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.
But “India” the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.
The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.
Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he’d been told.
He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.
The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.
-author unknown
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