Columbus, a hero in Washington, villain in Mexico City
On October 12, the opposing ideologies of the U.S. and Mexican administrations were once again on full display.
In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum marked the date as the Day of the Resistance of the Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples (Día de la Resistencia de los Pueblos Indígenas y Afromexicanos), rather than the traditional Día de la Raza. She highlighted that Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities are leading the ongoing discussions on forthcoming legislation guaranteeing their rights, and she hosted a dialogue with their representatives at the National Palace.
In Washington, President Donald Trump took the opposite course. He reaffirmed the federal holiday as Columbus Day, issued a formal proclamation praising the explorer’s “valor, adventure and ingenuity,” and used the occasion to push back against the famed navigator’s critics. At a White House event, he boasted that his administration had “resurrected” Columbus and hailed him as an American hero (* see below).
The contrast is basically about two competing ideas of national identity.
In recent decades, Mexico’s view of Columbus has shifted dramatically from a celebrated historical figure to a symbol of colonial oppression. The change reflects a broader movement to refocus the nation’s identity story on its Indigenous roots.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.