Bye, Columbus: These Are The Only Christopher's We Acknowledge...
For decades, Native Americans, historians and communities of color have been critical about Columbus Day -- a celebration of the Italian colonizer Christopher Columbus -- due to it positioning the man as a righteous "explorer" who discovered the "New World." In actuality, Columbus brought destruction, disease and violence to the Americas, which were already inhabited by indigenous people. Centuries later, the term "Columbusing" has been used to describe the gentrification of America's neighborhoods and the "discovery" of items and customs belonging to people of color. To celebrate what many are working diligently to change to Indigenous Peoples Day -- and doing so with a nod to Jay Z's favorite Christopher -- we've gathered all the Chris' we'd rather acknowledge over Columbus. It's time we get real about American history.