The Complex History of Columbus Day

 There is ongoing controversy over whether our nation should continue celebrating Columbus Day. It's well understood that Christopher Columbus did not truly "discover" America in 1492, as Indigenous peoples had been living on the land for thousands of years. However, the origins of the holiday are more complex than they might seem and are not solely about honoring the Italian explorer who sailed under the Spanish flag. Instead, Columbus Day has deeper roots in the history of Italian immigration to the United States and the struggle of Italian Americans to gain acceptance and recognition. Between roughly 1880 and 1924, more than 4 million Italians—primarily from Southern Italy and Sicily, including my own ancestors—arrived on American shores in search of opportunities they couldn't find in their homeland, much like countless other immigrants seeking a better life in the United States.  

Photo by Lewis Hine

Like other immigrants they were not met with open arms. Read the 2022 White House  Proclamation on Columbus Day. Sadly, the proclamation this year does not represent the true history of the holiday so I will not share it here.  

As mentioned in the 2022 proclamation, things were far from easy for Italian immigrants—prejudice and violence often stood in the way of the promise of equal opportunity. In fact, Columbus Day was established in 1892 as a response to the brutal, anti-Italian lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans the year before. During World War II, Italian Americans were even labeled "enemy aliens" and subjected to government surveillance and restrictions. Some 1,881 were taken into custody and detained. 418 Italian immigrants were held in internment centers. The formation of the holiday had less to do with Columbus and more to do with securing the votes of the American Catholic voting block of Irish, German, and Italian immigrants in an election year. But despite these challenges, the hard work, community spirit, and leadership of Italian Americans across every industry have helped make our nation stronger, more prosperous, and more vibrant.Columbus Day eventually grew to be synonymous with Italian pride. President Franklin Roosevelt made the day a federal holiday in 1937. You can find out more here.

 

Today Columbus Day is often celebrated with Indigenous Peoples' Day as many Italians and others consider the impact of Columubus' voyages on the native people inhabitating the Americas. That's a good thing. Examining the past with a deeper and respective lens is so important to all those who came before us. I hope readers will take the opportunity to explore the deeper history behind Columbus Day—to better understand its significance for many Italian Americans and why reflecting on this history still matters today for immigrants of all nations. As Italian Heritage Month continues, I encourage everyone to take some time to celebrate the rich culture, contributions, and resilience of the Italian American community.