In the past couple of years, more cities and states have opted to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day simultaneously — or in lieu of — the holiday, as indigenous activists and protesters highlight Columbus's gruesome violence and history of slavery.
Either way, the fact it's a debate at all is unusual, considering Columbus himself never even made it to North America — let alone the portion of the continent that would one day become the US. And his actions in the Caribbean and Central America were controversial even by early modern standards. He wasn't simply a navigator whose arrival in America set off a wave of destruction. Columbus actively participated in some pretty gruesome crimes himself, in his pursuit of profit.
On Hispaniola, Columbus served as the governor of Spain's new territory. The Spanish colonizers enslaved the native Taíno people, forcing them to work in gold mines.
To address the rumored abuses and incompetence of Columbus, Francisco de Bobadilla traveled to Hispaniola. After collecting testimony from the governor's allies and enemies alike, he assembled a
Business Insider once again distorting the truth, changing facts to support their leftist agenda.
Imagine thinking the world would be in a better position today if it weren’t for Columbus. Western society is the most innovative, prosperous, and generous society in the history of the world.
I don’t care 🤷♂️. Bunch of cry babies.