© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Columbus or Indigenous People's Day? This Professor Says Both

Camilla Townsend, distinguished professor of history at Rutgers University New Brunswick says the holiday should be used as a teaching tool about Indigenous People and Christopher Columbus.

“Native Americans and their history and contribution should be paid attention to,” Townsend said.  “That might actually do more good if we decided to do that in our schools, radio programs, and conversations, that would do more good than saying we’re going to replace one holiday with another.”

Townsend believes the same regarding sculptures of Columbus, saying he played an important role in history. 

“It’s because they happened that so much pain was engendered.” Townsend said.  “It’s because they happened that we should talk about them.  We can add other statues and other days, but we shouldn’t pretend that the past wasn’t what it was.”

Townsend says schools and places of higher education could do a better job teaching Native American history.