In 1492, Columbus "discovered" the Americas... where millions of people already lived. Here’s why some cities and states are replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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00:00Columbus enslaved, colonized, mutilated, and massacred thousands
00:30of indigenous people in the Americas.
00:32We can immediately begin to acknowledge the negative historic and continuing
00:37impacts of European colonization on the indigenous peoples of the Americas and
00:42reaffirm the district of Columbia's commitment to equality, diversity, and
00:46inclusion for all.
00:47Recognizing today as Indigenous People Day is an opportunity to educate our
01:00youth and our broader community about the positive and enduring contribution
01:05of indigenous people.
01:18Let's celebrate today for the indigenous people. No one discovered.
01:37Columbus Day gave the immigrants something to identify with, something to
01:42be proud of at a time when they were being vilified here in America.
02:12Frankly, it's an accident of history that Columbus is honored this way in the
02:29first place.
02:30Columbus Day was officially designated at a federal holiday in 1937, despite the
02:35fact that Columbus did not discover North America, despite the fact that
02:39millions of people were already living in North America upon his arrival in the
02:44Americas, and despite the fact that Columbus never stepped foot on the shores
02:49of the current United States.
02:51It's something that has been instilled in us since, in Escobar, that in 1492
02:59Columbus was this great guy, was an explorer, was an adventurer, was going to
03:04be, you know, that was going to be a good person to us.
03:06But as we got older, we learned otherwise, that it wasn't true.
03:10And now I guess you could say the truth is out.
03:14The truth is out.