Christopher Columbus

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Columbus Day and Culture Wars
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Christopher Columbus
Hero?
Villain?
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Battle of the Indians by Charles
BrowningPainting is a parody of early pastoral
paintings.
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Columbus as Cultural Icon
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Columbus Cultural Significance

• Symbolic beyond his actual achievements or
  actions as an individual, the mythology
  surrounding him has significance to the American
  culture.
• Polarizing Figure Columbus is largely viewed as
  either a figure of good or evil.

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National Myth of Columbus

• He was born of humble origins.
• He was a forward-thinker, who challenged the
  prevailing view that the world was flat by
  heroically sailing west.
• His discovery of the Americas brought European
  civilization and Christian faith to indigenous
  population.
• Supports view of Americans as people who are
  innovative and industrious (can-do thinking),
  and the notion that God is behind Americas
  founding.

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View of Columbus as Hero

• Peaked during the period leading up to the
  Chicago Worlds Fair (also known as the Columbian
  Exposition) 1892.
• Fair celebrated the 400th anniversary of
  Columbus arrival in the Americas.

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Celebrating Columbus as Heroic Model

• He set an example for us all by showing what
  monumental feats can be accomplished through
  perseverance and faith.
• President George H. W. Bush, June 8, 1989.

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Criticism of National Storyline

• Criticism focuses on Columbus enslavement and
  oppression of Arawaks which many scholars refer
  to as genocide.
• Critics charge that celebrating Columbus in a
  positive light masks ongoing oppression against
  Native Americans today.
• Additionally, that such masking assists
  governments and citizens to avoid taking
  responsibility for their actions.

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Quote by Ward Churchill, leader of AIM

• More often, the sentiments expressed by the
  participants are, quite frankly, that the fate of
  Native America embodied in Columbus and the
  Columbian legacy is a matter to be openly and
  enthusiastically applauded as an unrivaled "boon
  to all mankind". Undeniably, the situation of
  American Indians will not in fact cannot
  change for the better so long as such attitudes
  are deemed socially acceptable by the mainstream
  populace. Hence, such celebrations as Columbus
  Day must be stopped.

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American Indian Movement
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Statement by the Transform Columbus Day Alliance

• The Transform Columbus Day Alliance actively
  rejects the celebration
• of Christopher Columbus and his legacy of
  domination, oppression, and
• colonialism. 
• By saying NO to Columbus we are saying YES to a
  new
• future in the Americas. A future of mutual
  respect, collaboration and
• equality. A future that respects
• the rights of indigenous peoples
• the natural environment
• democratic economic justice over corporate
  globalization
• gender equity over global patriarchy
• free and equal speech over hate speech

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Backlash

• Responses to AIM and other social justice groups
  tend to
• make the following types of claims
• Americas were largely uninhabited area
• Indigenous population were nomadichence they
  werent using the land
• Disease not genocide was responsible for
  decimation of this population

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What the Historical Evidence Supports

• Little is known of Columbus origins, not even
  his ethnicity with any degree of certainty. He
  married into a noble family so it is unlikely
  he was poor.
• Over 500 Indian nations existed at the time of
  Columbus arrival. These nations were varied both
  culturally and socially.
• Columbus enslavement and subsequent war against
  the is documented by Bartolme de Las Casas who
  made copies of Columbus diary.
• Both war and disease decimated indigenous peoples.

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Bartolome de Las Casas

• Began as an adventurer arriving in New World in
  1502
• Became a plantation owner
• Horrified at the killings and atrocities
  committed against Indians by Spanish soldiers
• Freed his own slaves and became a priest
• Fought for humane treatment of Indians
• Helped Spain to enact laws against Indian slavery

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PACE UniversityItalian American Student
Organization Celebrating Columbus Day
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University of Michigan Student Organizations
protesting Columbus Day
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Columbus Day as Entertainment and Shopping Event
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Columbus Day Humor