Title: Once upon a Genocide: Christopher Columbus in Children's Literature
Abstract: Robert Young, Christopher Columbus and His Voyage to the New World, (Let's Celebrate Series). Silver Press, 1990, 32 pp. (2nd grade). James T. de Kay, Meet Christopher Columbus. Random House, 1989, 72 pp. (2nd grade). Jan Gleiter and Kathleen Thompson, Christopher Columbus, (Great Tales Series). Ideals, 1985, 32 pp. (3rd grade). Ingri and Edgar Parin Aulaire, Columbus. Doubleday, 1955, 59 pp. (5th grade). Jean Fritz, Where Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus? G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1980, 80 pp. (Upper elementary). Lino Monchieri (trans. by Mary Lee Grisanti), Christopher Columbus. Silver Burdett, 1985, 62 pp. (Upper elementary). Mary Pope Osborne, Christopher Columbus: Admiral of the Ocean Sea. Dell, 1987, 90 pp. (Upper elementary/middle school). Scan J. Dolan, Christopher Columbus: The Intrepid Mariner, (Great Lives Series). Fawcett Columbine, 1989, 117 pp. (Middle school). Children's biographies of Christopher Columbus function as primers on racism and imperialism. These books teach youngsters to accept the right of white people to rule over people of color, of powerful nations to dominate weaker nations. And because the Columbus myth is so pervasive -- Columbus' discovery is the only historical episode with which all my students at Jefferson High School are familiar -- it is vital that educators analyze how this myth inhibits children from developing democratic, multicultural, and anti-racist attitudes. The Columbus myth goes like this: Long ago there lived a white man. This man was very brave, smart, and determined. He loved adventure. He sailed across the ocean and found many islands with dark-skinned people. He took possession of these islands and called the people Indians. His name was Christopher Columbus -- he America. Almost without exception this is the portrait of Columbus presented in biographies written for children. They depict the journey to the New World as a great adventure led by probably the greatest sailor of his time. It's a story of courage and superhuman tenacity. Yet behind this tale of courage, adventure, and discovery is the gruesome reality. For Columbus, land was real estate and it didn't matter to him that other people were already living there; if he discovered it, he took it. If he needed guides or translators, he kidnaped them. If his men wanted women, he captured sex slaves. If the indigenous people resisted, he countered with vicious dogs, hangings, and mutilations. On his second voyage, desperate to show his royal patrons a return on their investment, Columbus rounded up some 1,500 Taino Indians on the island of Hispaniola and chose 500 as slaves to be shipped back to Spain and sold. As one of the Spanish colonists wrote, the remaining Indians rushed in all directions like lunatics, women dropping and abandoning infants in the panic, running for miles without stopping, fleeing across mountains and rivers.' Slavery did not show a profit as almost all the slaves died en route to Spain or soon after their arrival. Thus, Columbus decided to concentrate on the search for gold. Nonetheless, he wrote, Let us in the name of the Holy Trinity go on sending all the slaves that can be sold.(2) As for gold, Columbus ordered every Taino 14 years and over to deliver a regular quota. Those who failed were punished by having their hands chopped off. In a mere two years of the Columbus regime possibly a quarter of a million people died. Yes, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue -- but he did much more than that.(3) It is worth noting that none of this information is based on new or controversial research; in fact, some of the most horrifying details of Columbus' reign in the Indies come from biographers like Samuel Eliot Morison, who are admirers of the admiral. This article follows Columbus as he sails through children's biographies, comparing the books' versions of events with the historical record and then analyzing how these accounts may influence young readers. …
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-06-22
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 2
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot