I am concerned about articles that denounce Columbus and wish to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. I have no problem with the latter but it should be a different day, preferably a day chosen by them. Most people know little about Columbus and are blaming him for things he did not do.
I spent several years doing research for my acclaimed book, Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem. He sailed west toward what he assumed would be China. There he expected to set up a trading post the profits from which were to be used to take Jerusalem back from the Muslims. This is in his writings and in the agreements with Queen Isabella. When he arrived in Hispaniola he became friends with the natives, especially the chief Guacanagari, saying they were the best people in the world.
The Santa Maria went aground on that voyage so he had to return to get a rescue ship. He had to leave 39 men behind and left strict instructions that they treat the natives well and not go raping and marauding. He took 6 back with him—all were baptized. Baptized people could not be enslaved. Two decided to remain at court, one became his adopted godson, the others wanted to go back home. When they arrived back, all of the men he had left were dead. The chief told Columbus that the men had gone against his orders and went to another village where they did the dastardly deeds. The people from that village came and killed them. The men who just came with Columbus wanted to kill the natives in return but Columbus said absolutely not. He continually asked the Queen to send priests to baptize the natives so they would be saved. Please retain Columbus Day and suggest that people learn more about him. Make Indigenous Peoples Day a different day. Thank you.
Carol L. Delaney
Providence, RI
To the person who asked about the 6 natives he took back on the first voyage… 2 decided to remain at court, one became his adopted godson, the other 3 wanted to go back home but one died at sea. Please read my book for all the references in the bibliography.
Dear Professor Delaney,
Thank you for your perspective. I think some sources to support your claims would be helpful. I am wondering what Columbus did with the 6 baptized Indians who were not enslaved that he took with him back to Spain. Please also address Columbus’ subsequent voyages, during which reports of rape, enslavement, and forced labor of the indigenous population are abundant.
Hi Daniel – I have e-mailed Professor Delaney and shared the link to this page so that she can respond to you directly. In the meantime, many of your questions can be answered by viewing Delaney’s Presidential Lecture at Roger Williams University (2017). This is the link to the Unite Wellesley website, where the video appears. You have to scroll down a bit. https://www.italiansarepeopletoo.com
Also check out Delaney’s letter to the Wellesley Select Board (2020):
https://www.italiansarepeopletoo.com/post/professor-carol-delaney
REad my book and you will find what you want
I think I already replied?? All the references are in my book, take a look. carol
Also wrote you I think: 2 natives wanted to stay at court, one became CC’s godson, the others wanted to go home but one died at sea. And it was the horrible men sent over by Isabella after the first voyage, with 17 ships!! and it was Ovando and Bobadilla who did the horrible deeds against CCs orders… CC was one man among several hundred and unable to stop them. carol
Daniel – Please also read point #3 in this link: https://91a4ccf7-fee2-4600-9bad-1fc70c578ce5.filesusr.com/ugd/0f16c3_b430c56fe4be44e5ae7074548a527dbe.pdf This information was reviewed and approved by Professor Delaney before it was posted on the Unite Wellesley site.
Ideed, I did not know that. Not from current arguments and not from the brief coverage he got in my high scool history classes.
Thank you so much for your timely and informative letter, Carol.
If readers would like to learn more about Professor Delaney’s work, please check out the United Wellesley website at http://www.UniteWellesley.com. There you will find a video of Professor Delaney delivering the Presidential Lecture at Rogers Williams University as well as her March 2020 letter to the Select Board: https://www.italiansarepeopletoo.com/post/professor-carol-delaney
Carol, I found your article extremely interesting. The position you stated for maintaining Columbus Day was very well explained. I agree that the Indigenous People’s Day should be observed, but definitely on a separate day focusing on their unique customs and history.
I agree….very strong article!
So important that everyone in Wellesley can read this post. Do you have any influence to get it published in this week’s “.Townsman”?