John,
Back in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday. It's observed the second Monday in October and has been a federal government holiday since.
It's no secret that celebrating someone like Christopher Columbus on the federal level is widely problematic. Still, it's no surprise that this country has celebrated and honored someone like him for so long.
Instead of celebrating Christopher Columbus, we should discuss how he and his men forced Indigenous people into slavery throughout their exploration. Countless European settlers brought infectious diseases like influenza and smallpox, which wiped out Indigenous populations. We also cannot forget the direct violence inflicted on these communities as settlers claimed their lands.
Indigenous Peoples' Day is about correcting a whitewashed history – a history that claims Columbus deserved recognition or appreciation for “finding” Americas where people already resided. In reality, we need to be using it as a day to recognize the harm of colonialism against Indigenous folks.
Back in 2021, President Biden became the first president ever to issue a proclamation to signify the acknowledgment of Indigenous peoples on the 2nd Monday of October. 10 States and Washington, D.C., all recognize the day as Indigenous Peoples' Day, and over 100 cities celebrate it as such.
We know all too well that white supremacy never sleeps. Countless local and state legislatures have been enacting laws that encourage the erasure of critical points of American history – the contributions of Indigenous people being one of them. Take a look:
Photo Source: American Indians in Children's Literature
But thanks to the work of countless Indigenous activists who organized to accomplish things like recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day while protesting Columbus Day, we can and will continue to fight against white supremacy.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
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