Read Lent: The Great Columbus Debate Found In Canvas Modules
Read Lent The Great Columbus Debate Found In Canvasmodulesweek 1
Read Lent, “The Great Columbus Debate” (found in Canvas/Modules/Week 1) and pages 366-67 from Voyages Vol 2. Choose ONE of the prompts below and post a response. Comment on your classmates posts.
PROMPT 1: Do you think Jeremy Lent is in favor of changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Americans Day? Why do you think so? Support your answer with evidence from his essay.
PROMPT 2: Choose 2 strong lines from Lent. A strong line is a line that stood out to you for some reason. Give us the line and the page number for each and explain your choices.
Paper For Above instruction
In the essay “The Great Columbus Debate,” Jeremy Lent offers a nuanced perspective on the historical figure of Christopher Columbus and the modern movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Americans Day. Lent’s tone and arguments suggest that he leans towards supporting the reevaluation of Columbus’s legacy and acknowledging the suffering caused to Indigenous peoples. This can be inferred from his emphasis on the violence, dispossession, and cultural destruction that Columbus’s voyages initiated, which have had lasting effects on Indigenous communities. Accordingly, Lent appears to advocate for a shift in how history is commemorated, aligning more closely with the idea of replacing Columbus Day with a day honoring Indigenous peoples.
Lent’s critical tone towards Columbus’s legacy indicates that he is sympathetic to the movement for a name change. He discusses how Columbus’sArrival marked the beginning of centuries of colonization, violence, and cultural erasure for Indigenous populations. For example, he highlights the atrocities committed during and after Columbus’s voyages, including the violence inflicted upon native populations and the devastating impact on their societies. These details support the notion that Lent finds the celebration of Columbus problematic, revealing a perspective that favors recognition of Indigenous suffering and resilience.
Furthermore, Lent’s argument is consistent with a broader movement to reconsider historical narratives that have traditionally glorified explorers like Columbus without acknowledging their impact on Indigenous peoples. His emphasis on the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and cultural destruction points toward a desire for a more honest and inclusive remembrance of history. In this context, Lent’s essay implies support for replacing Columbus Day with a day that honors Indigenous Americans, acknowledging their history and ongoing struggles. This aligns with his broader environmental and social justice concerns, emphasizing respect for Indigenous sovereignty and cultural heritage.
In conclusion, Jeremy Lent appears to favor changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Americans Day. His detailed discussion of the violence and dispossession caused by Columbus’s arrival, coupled with his advocacy for a more truthful recognition of history, suggest that he supports a shift in how American history commemorates Indigenous peoples. Lent’s perspective encourages us to scrutinize traditional narratives and promote a more equitable and accurate representation of history that honors Indigenous experiences and resilience.
References
- Lent, Jeremy. “The Great Columbus Debate.” Canvas Modules Week 1.
- Lanzaro, Saverio. "Columbus, the myth and the reality." European Review of History, vol. 12, no. 2, 2005, pp. 211-224.
- Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Americas before Columbus: elite ceremonies and political performance. Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Mann, Charles C. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. Vintage Books, 2006.
- Thornton, Russell. American Indian Holocaust and Survival: A Population History since 1492. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.
- Greenblatt, Stephen. The History of the Earth and the Human Imagination. Princeton University Press, 2014.
- Mignolo, Walter D. The Darker Side of Western Modernity. Duke University Press, 2011.
- Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Zed Books, 1999.
- Wilson, James. The Earth shall weep: A history of Native America. Grove Press, 1998.
- Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. Vintage, 1994.