The Truth About Christopher Columbus

By: Tiara Fulton

Christopher Columbus, an Italian hero recognized for "discovering" America in the ships the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. His intended plan was to discover a water route from Europe to Asia directly. But instead found the America’s. Also recognized for proving the world isn’t flat. In elementary school, maybe even middle school, most were taught the catchy saying; “Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492”We were taught that this man was so honorable that he even has his own Federal Holiday in the United States and in other countries around the world. Christopher Columbus Day, recognized on the second Monday of October each year. Growing up my mother taught me that there is always two sides to a story. Well, there is definitely two sides to this story. Although Christopher Columbus was a very accomplished explorer, he isn’t the honorable man that we thought him to be. In fact, if Christopher Columbus were alive today we would be awaiting trial on crimes against humanity and possibly facing execution.

In October 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahamas. At the time the Bahamas were inhabited by the Lucayans, Taínos and Arawaks. In a diary kept by Christopher Columbus, he wrote that these people were friendly, peaceful, hospitable, honest and kind-hearted. In fact, when the Santa Maria was shipwrecked the Arawaks  worked for many hours to save his crew members and cargo aboard. Not a single thing was missing, that how honest and trustworthy these people were. Instead of rewarding them or praising them for their good deeds, Christopher Columbus took advantage of the compassionate people. He took over their land and enslaved them all to work in his harsh conditioned gold mines. After about two years, over half of the original native population had died. Many died of disease that was brought overseas from Europe and from exhaustion of working in the mines.

Christopher Columbus was also an avid slave trader and supervised the sex trade of the girls on the island.  The girls ages 9 to 10 were most favorable amongst his men. To me that is sickening. How could we be blinded in elementary school by all the “good” he has done, when in reality this man is evil? He brought with him cannons and attack dogs on his second trip back to the Bahamas. If a salve resisted slavery Christopher Columbus would have their body parts such as nose and ears cut off. If any slaves tried to run away he would cut off their legs or burn them alive. He would even feed the native babies to the dogs if there wasn’t enough food for the dogs.

We were taught that this man was a “hero” but is in no way a hero or a honorable man in my eyes, despite his accomplishments. In my opinon he is nothing more than a coward and and evil spirited person. I cannot respect someone like that now that I know the truth about Christopher Columbus.

 

 

Endnotes:

1.       Kaum Eric, "Columbus Day? True Legacy: Cruelty and Slavery," Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-kasum/columbus-day-a-bad-idea_b_742708.html (accessed January 19, 2014).

 2.       Strauss Valerie , "Christopher Columbus: 3 Things You Think He Did That He Didn't," Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/14/christopher-columbus-3-things-you-think-he-did-that-he-didnt/ (accessed January 19, 2014).

3.       Wikipedia , "Christopher Columbus." Last modified January 15, 2014. Accessed January 19, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus.