Christopher Columbus Or Native Americans

Christopher Columbus or Native Americans

We have been taught the same concept of the discovery of America for hundreds of years. Christopher Columbus discovered America and we celebrate Columbus Day every year to honor his bravery and strength, but every story has two sides. Native Americans who have been settled in the “New World” long before Columbus stumbled onto the land, aren’t given the recognition they deserve. While some praise Columbus for his discoveries, many are questioning if we have forgotten the importance of Native Americans and what part they played in the Christopher Columbus story.

Author Jack Weatherford explains his view on Columbus Day and what we should be celebrating. In his source “Examining the Reputation of Christopher Columbus” he states “he [Columbus] was no more the discoverer of America than Pocahontas was the discoverer of Great Britain” Weatherford does not believe that Columbus had anything to do with that discovery of the “New World” nor does he need to be honored and celebrated for it. Weatherford acknowledges that Native Americans survived without the help of the white settlers, “Native Americans had built great civilizations with many millions of people long before Columbus wandered lost into the Caribbean.” Weatherford states that most of the “great discoveries” that Columbus proved were already known. “Columbus did not prove that the world was round; educated people had known that for centuries.” Jack Weatherford believes we