REVISION: 1492, Columbus Brought Race to The New World Too

Samson Sosanya                                                                                                          October 3rd, 2016

1492, Columbus Brought Race to The New World Too

           Is race simply a way of identifying the color of an individual or is it a negative notation used to belittle a group of individuals? To myself, race is a form of identity for a group of people based on their physical features and their culture. In class, it was suggested that race was not naturally occurring. Throughout time, race has been identified through racialization. From the moment Europeans stepped foot into Hispaniola (modern day Haiti and Dominican Republic), till now, race has been used to separate groups of people by class and power to make a group feel superior or inferior to another.

            When Columbus arrived in Hispaniola, he saw an advantage and wealth that would benefit the Spaniards. The only things in his way were people who were indigenous to the “new found” land. In a diary entry Columbus wrote, “.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron... . They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want (http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html ).” The new people that Columbus encountered look nothing like his own. Columbus saw phenotypic differences that differed himself from the native, such as their brownish red skin and broader foreheads. To him, they were less technologically advanced and ignorant. Europeans saw these people as primitive due to their use of stone for warfare and cloth for apparel.  Columbus’ ideals created a separation between the groups of people. This leads to a useless distinction called “race”.

The reason I would call the word “race”, useless is the negativity behind it. I have always thought of race as a simple way to identify groups just based on how they look. “… race is commonly and popularly defined in terms of biological traits—phenotypic differences in skin color, hair texture, and other physical attributes ( https://www.nap.edu/read/9599/chapter/9 ).” The quote relates to a newer way I view race, but in a slightly negative aspect. These phenotypic differences create boundaries between groups, which relate to Columbus and his actions. Not only does race give physical boundaries, but also mental ones.

“Special code- words (such as welfare mothers) may be used, and the readers are able to interpret these words in terms of minorities and the problems attributed to them (van Dijk page 39).” Race creates room for stereotypes based on differences. These stereotypes create further separation between groups by derogatory diction. Today, race is a word used to differentiate whites and blacks. Black people shunned by whites in various ways due to the same mentality that Columbus had.

The idea that “African Americans have yet to achieve parity with whites in terms of income (Thomas, 2015, Abstract, para.1)” is why the idea of race persists. Whites tend to be leaders in economic positions and take control of the ignorance blacks have for certain subjects, for their own benefits. For example, there have been countless times where white business executives in the music industry have taken in musical artists of color, and raped their talents for their own profits. Executives draw them into these absurd deals that subliminally benefit their company. It relates to the savaged mentality of Columbus taking advantage of the colored people of Hispaniola.

 Photo by Storm Bear from towncalleddobson.com

 Found the photo interesting because it appeared as if the indigenous people were oblivious to the fact that the Europeans were trying to take everything from ... Including their lives.

References

Scholarly Articles

Lemke, J. L. (1999). Teun A. van Dijk (ed.), Discourse as structure and process. (Discourse studies: A   multidisciplinary introduction, 1.) London (UK) & Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage, 1997. Pp. xii, 356. Hb $75.00, pb $27.50. Language in Society, 28(1), 98-101. doi:10.1017/s0047404599231041

Thomas, M., & Moye, R. (2015). Race, Class, and Gender and the Impact of Racial Segregation on Black-White Income Inequality. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 1(4), 490-502. doi:10.1177/2332649215581665

In-text Sources

Omi, M. A. (2001). America Becoming: Racial Trends and Their Consequences. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Zinn, H. (2009). History Is A Weapon an excerpt from A People's History of The United States. Retrieved from http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html

Photo Source
Bear, S. (2008). Native American Netroots. Retrieved from http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/tag/cartoons