Christopher Columbus

Good morning, folks!

Since today is Columbus Day and we both know that it is a central holiday in the American folklore celebrating the conquest and plunder of the Native American people. Christopher Columbus is America’s first RACIST.

Genocide. Colonialism. Exploitation. I would rather celebrate indigenous resistance. I would rather to shed a different light to honor the Native people that have been survivors of colonialism and genocide. It was founded with the institution of slavery as part of the governmental apparatus along with the provision made for it in the U.S. Constitution.

Also, I must honor those people who fought bravely against the theft of their lands and displacement from their homes by the United States government. Today’s struggle for justice cannot be waged without remembering the true history of our nations conquest over the Native American people.

Their lives has been become part of contemporary indictment of the social condition of poverty faced by these Native American men, women, and children, and the repercussions that affect and break down the social roles of the family. We see disaffected youth, drinking, hunger, alcoholism, poverty, and children left to fend for themselves.

I was thrilled to read an article last week that in state of Washington, the council in Seattle has decided to remove Columbus Day and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. That was a huge deal! Thank you! I was very happy to see that happening! In fact, I support Indigenous People’ Day very much for few reasons.

For a good reason, Columbus Day is a racist because it presumes that the color of Native American or the surname of Native American defines their thinking, that somehow they will bring something different to the intellectual table just because they look Native American or their last name sounds Native American.

Also, there was a recent article written by David M. Perry called What to tell your kid about Christopher Columbus with the link below for the readers to click and read. I remember reading about Columbus way back in grade school and I never felt right about this guy and I followed my guts all the way today. My teachers were the assholes that taught me bullshit history when I was in classrooms that were supposed to be safe haven. White people are always good…. yeah, right!

Christopher Columbus was the one who infected America to be the king of Racism in the world. Why not National Association of the Deaf (NAD) celebrates Indigenous People’s Day today? Since NAD is the “nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America” quoted on the website.

-JT

Copyright © Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

References:

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/10/opinion/perry-columbus-day-what-to-tell-your-kid/index.html

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-city-council-vote-columbus-day-name-change/nhckd/