Indigenous People’s Day Photo Project 2013
“Dear Columbus…”
Photo Credit: Andrew Burlingham
South Puget Sound Community College’s Diversity & Equity Center
Olympia, WA
Yes. YES. Fuck Columbus forever.
I’ll always distinctly remember being a -child-, maybe 7? and even then being so horribly angry about Columbus. I was originally vocal about it. The real kicker? I quickly learned to shut up about how I felt.
I tried to talk about how infuriating it was to learn how Columbus invaded and destroyed an entire native people. And every adult I talked to tried to convince me everything Columbus did was totally okay. Apparently children aren’t supposed to learn about Columbus and find him to be anything but ~brave~ and ~adventurous~ or some shit.
I’m still, even now, fucking appalled anyone, ANYONE, could so easily and thoughtlessly try to indoctrinate a small child into accepting genocide of native people. It’s …disgusting, and so extremely telling of how far our culture will go in its dehumanization and erasure of the violence native people endured and continue to endure at our hands.So. Yes. Fuck Columbus.
I hope someday we all celebrate Indigenous People Day and only remember Columbus for his crimes against humanity.
