Columbus: Hero or Villain?

We all know that on October 12 we celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus Day is a holiday in the United States and in most Latin American countries that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in 1492, to the New World. There is a very tight debate on whether this day should be celebrated or not. Some people state that Columbus was a hero, however many people think he was a villain.

The Hero:

For some, Columbus is considered a hero. They see the positive effects of his journey and claim that he "discovered" a new land, where in fact, he didn't. The truth is that other explorers had already visited America by the time Columbus made it here. Of course, we cannot forget the Tainos, our natives, were already here. The arrival of Columbus definitely marked a new era of product exchanges between Europe and the New World, the discovery of new animal and plant species and a mixture of races.

The Villain:

I believe Columbus got all the credit for something he really did not do. Instead, he is usually not held responsible for many things he DID: He profited, enslaved and sold our indigenous to the Spanish. He exploited them for no pay, no food, or care for their health or their families, took their lands and claimed them for Spain (He even named our island Hispaniola). The only thing our Tainos received from Spaniards was damage and enslavement.

In my opinion, Columbus is definitely a villain. He and his crew were too ambitious, selfish and evil and mistreated a race that was kind and noble. What is your opinion about this topic? Share it with us in the comments! See you next time!

Written by Paula Garcia

7th Grader