A Transform Columbus Day march in Denver, Colorado, in 2006. Photo by Richard Myers

Writer Bayard Johnson reflects on the continued celebration of Christopher Columbus in America:

Columbus could have come in peace. History would be much different. He was greeted peacefully, time after time. The Indians had clearly never encountered anyone like the bloodthirsty Europeans, crazed for gold and treasure. They never imagined men could behave with such sadistic cruelty. Columbus called them “naïve” for being so kind and generous. The Indians had no idea that across the ocean lay a savage overcrowded land filled with misery, slaves, disease, poverty, ignorance and greed—a land where gold or wealth could buy anything: “royal” status (whatever that means), respect, concubines…even honor. By this point in history, all this could be bought, if you had enough gold.

Knowing the facts of Columbus’s life, it seems astonishing that he is still treated with honor in many places. Columbus Day was declared a national holiday in the U.S. in 1934, when the Knights of Columbus lobbied for a holiday named after a Catholic. Was he elevated to hero status because nobody knew the real story about Columbus’s inhumanity, his atrocities, his delusions, his failures? Or does history consider his crimes insignificant because his victims were mostly Indians?

Christopher Columbus can’t lay claim to being the first European in recorded history who came to the Americas and killed Indians. He wasn't. Thorvald Erikson, son of Eric the Red and brother of Leif, murdered the first 8 Indians he met, in cold blood, half a millennium before Columbus.

But Columbus can lay claim to being the first heavily armed European to invade, loot and plunder new lands in the Americas. He created a blueprint. Arrive uninvited. Pretend friendship. Take over. Enslave all natives who aren't slaughtered. Make money shipping slaves overseas. Keep some slaves to dig for gold and treasure.

This happened again and again, following the protocol Columbus invented. This was the real discovery of Columbus—how Europe could pillage and get rich off the Americas and the rest of the world.

Get the Story:
Bayard Johnson: Who Could Possibly Be in Favor of Columbus Day? (Indian Country Today 10/12) Another Opinion:
Ángel González: Celebrating Christopher Columbus on Seattle’s ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ (The Seattle Times 10/12)

Also Today:
Add Indigenous Peoples’ Day to your calendar? (The Albuquerque Journal 10/9)
Olympia’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration set for Oct. 12 (The Olympian 10/9)
4-day Indigenous Peoples Days kicks off Friday (The Union 10/9)
Portland to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day (AP 10/9)
Indigenous People's History Day to be celebrated Saturday in Redding (The Redding Record-Searchlight 10/10)
Today in history: October 12 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day (People's World 10/9)
Indigenous Peoples’ Week Oct. 12 to 16 at HSU (The Mad River Union 10/9)
Creating tribal awareness: Tribe celebrates culture at Indigenous Peoples Days (The Marysville/Yuba City Appeal-Democrat 10/10)
A new day for a new world: Whom else should we celebrate besides Christopher Columbus? (The Washington Post 10/10)
On second Indigenous Peoples Day, Native activists see more work to be done (The Seattle Globalist 10/11)
Carrboro declares ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ (The News & Observer 10/10)
Village of Lewiston celebrating both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day (The Niagara Gazette 10/11)
Muscogee Creek Nation Principal Chief Tiger issues October 12 as 'Indigenous People's Day (KJRH 10/12)
More cities are recognizing Native Americans on Columbus Day (AP 10/12)
Why some celebrate Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day (KFOR 10/12)
Indigenous People’s Day 2015: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (Heavy.com 10/12)
Seattle, Olympia celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day (My Northwest 10/12)

Related Stories:
Kris Lane: Columbus was clearly not a friend to Native peoples (10/9)
Brian Vallie: A message for the indigenous peoples of America (10/14)
Editorial: Genocide and slavery are the realities of our history (10/13)
Tribe and city in Michigan to observe Indigenous Peoples Day (10/9)
Answer Sheet: How is Columbus Day still a thing in US today? (10/9)
Jessica Carro: Columbus ignored in most countries except US (10/8)
Largest city in Washington welcomes Indigenous Peoples' Day (10/7)
Washington city could turn Columbus Day into Coast Salish Day (10/02)
City leaders in Seattle postpone vote on Indigenous Peoples' Day (9/3)
Opinion: Indigenous People's Day deserves national recognition (05/13)
Minnesota city replaces Columbus Day with Chief Red Wing Day (05/01)
Native Sun News: Minneapolis adopts Indigenous People's Day (05/01)
MPR: Minneapolis welcomes Indigenous People's Day 2014 (04/28)
Opinion: 5 reasons for Indigenous People's Day in Minneapolis (04/25)
Minneapolis city council to vote on Columbus Day change (04/21)