NEWTON, Mass. — By law, the second Monday in October is one of the twelve official state holidays in Massachusetts.
Columbus Day is set aside to honor Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer credited with discovering the Americas in the 15th century.
While this is a source of pride for many Italian Americans, many indigenous people feel it’s painful and inappropriate.
The city of Newton is now embroiled in a debate about whether to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day.
A visit to the Nonantum section of the city reveals deep Italian roots as fire hydrants, street lines, and traffic sign poles are all painted red, white, and green.
“There’s a rich Italian American heritage here in the city of Newton,” explained city councilor Lenny Gentile. “There always has been.”
Columbus Day has evolved into a day to celebrate Italian heritage, said Gentile. “Not unlike St. Patrick’s Day and what St. Patrick’s Day means to the Irish.”
But instead of just being known for “Sailing the ocean blue in 1492”, Christopher Columbus' reputation has been tarnished in recent years.
The Italian explorer is now cited for mistreating indigenous people as he landed on the Caribbean Islands.
“It hurts me that this is the myth that is still being taught in the school system and they still celebrate him as a hero when I know that he is not,” said Dr. Darlene Flores, a Newton resident who supports changing the holiday.
“Nobody really understands that he did commit atrocities,” added Dr. Flores. “I feel if they did know maybe they wouldn’t be celebrating him as a hero.”
The proposal in Newton follows successful efforts in communities like Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville. In Chelsea, a Change.org petition now has hundreds of signatures to support removing a Columbus monument from the heart of the city.
The statue in Boston’s Waterfront Park has been vandalized several times in recent years. Mayor Walsh now says it will be moved out of the park permanently and a statue honoring Italian immigrants will take its place.
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Still, residents who spoke with Boston 25 News have mixed opinions about changing the holiday.
One man acknowledged that a lot of Italian Americans feel price about Columbus' achievements, but said he didn’t think the explorer was very altruistic.
Another man said he agreed with the sentiment of changing the holiday but admitted he’d probably still think of it as Columbus Day out of habit.
A young woman was straight forward that it should be changed.
Changing attitudes about Columbus' legacy will take time according to Flores, but she says changing a holiday is a big first step. “It would basically show the indigenous people here in Massachusetts and Newton that we do hear you.”
The Newton City Council will hold a hearing about changing the holiday Thursday, October 8th at 7 p.m.
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