Recs: Columbus Day
Here in the U.S., we observe [ Columbus Day ] on the second Monday in October, in celebration of Columbus first arriving to the "New" World in October 1492. The day is observed as a holiday for most federal government employees, the Post Office, and most public elementary school systems (institutions of higher education pick and choose whether they wish to have a holiday or not). It is still Columbus Day, despite the fact that that is now rather politically incorrect, but no one seems to know what to do with it anyway. If you are one of the people whose institutions observe it as a holiday, you think to yourself, "Sweet! Three-day weekend!" If you are among the people who don't get the day off, you vaguely think of it later in the day when you realize you're not getting any mail today because it's a holiday for them.
So, as a librarian, I like to make sure people know it is a stupid holiday and point out a couple things that tell the other side of the story.
Book:
Encounter by Jane Yolen, illustrated by David Shannon.
A brilliantly done picture book that imagines the first encounter between Columbus and the native people of San Salvador. The story is told from the perspective of a young Taino boy who has doubts about the arrival of the white men. Shannon's illustrations are the perfect complement to the text, skillfully telling the other side of the story just as much as Yolen's words do. In particular, there is a truly horrifying two-page spread that features the white men leering at the natives' gold. That image really sticks with you. This story is not based on facts, but it is a thought-provoking imagining of what might have happened.
[ Amazon ]
Song:
"A Kinder Columbus" by Deb Talan (of The Weepies).
I got this song from flyakate a while back, and I love it. It's got a nice, slow folk tune to it and the lyrics are just fascinating. It doesn't really tell the other side of the story, but Talan's metaphor - love as discovery - does emphasize kinder Columbus.
he is my columbus sailed all around my heart opened my assumptions lemons of light in the dark there is nothing i could hold away from him like a native giving gifts received with gentleness he is my kinder columbus
[ Download ] // [ Deb Talan ]
So, as a librarian, I like to make sure people know it is a stupid holiday and point out a couple things that tell the other side of the story.
Book:
Encounter by Jane Yolen, illustrated by David Shannon.
A brilliantly done picture book that imagines the first encounter between Columbus and the native people of San Salvador. The story is told from the perspective of a young Taino boy who has doubts about the arrival of the white men. Shannon's illustrations are the perfect complement to the text, skillfully telling the other side of the story just as much as Yolen's words do. In particular, there is a truly horrifying two-page spread that features the white men leering at the natives' gold. That image really sticks with you. This story is not based on facts, but it is a thought-provoking imagining of what might have happened.
[ Amazon ]
Song:
"A Kinder Columbus" by Deb Talan (of The Weepies).
I got this song from flyakate a while back, and I love it. It's got a nice, slow folk tune to it and the lyrics are just fascinating. It doesn't really tell the other side of the story, but Talan's metaphor - love as discovery - does emphasize kinder Columbus.
he is my columbus sailed all around my heart opened my assumptions lemons of light in the dark there is nothing i could hold away from him like a native giving gifts received with gentleness he is my kinder columbus
[ Download ] // [ Deb Talan ]