The Truth About Columbus We Were Never Taught

We all grew up learning about Christopher Columbus as the man who “discovered America” and “opened the way to the New World.” I remember hearing that in school like it was some kind of heroic tale. We were told he was looking for a better trade route to India, but ended up in the Caribbean instead, not even realizing at first that he’d reached a completely different part of the world.

What we weren’t taught, of course, was how brutal he was to the people he encountered. Columbus and his men enslaved Indigenous Taíno people almost immediately after arriving. They forced everyone over the age of 14 to collect gold for them every few months. If they didn’t bring enough, their hands were cut off and they were left to bleed to death. This wasn’t some rare punishment—it was part of a deliberate system of terror.

Women were raped. Children were enslaved. People were hunted down with attack dogs for sport. Thousands were forced into grueling labor in mines and plantations, often dying from exhaustion, starvation, or disease. Entire villages were burned to the ground when communities resisted. Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish priest who witnessed these events firsthand, wrote that what Columbus and his men did was “the most atrocious and barbaric cruelty.” Within just a generation, the Taíno population of Hispaniola collapsed from hundreds of thousands (possibly over a million) to almost nothing.

This side of history was deliberately swept under the rug for centuries to protect the heroic myth. We were spoon-fed a story that erased genocide and glorified conquest. Reading about it now makes me sick to my stomach. Today I came across a piece by Tony Pentimalli about Columbus and Columbus Day that reminded me just how warped our collective memory has been. And yet, Trump wants us to honor this man. Honestly, that tells you everything you need to know.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is the better choice. It’s time we stop glorifying atrocities and start honoring the people who suffered because of them.

Vicki Andrada's avatar

By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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