Maligned as sinister and criminal, Italian immigrants were the focus of increasing bigotry. But the new arrivals were not welcomed by all. in search of opportunity and a better life.
Beginning in the 1880s, Italian immigrants began pouring into the U.S. For these people, Columbus represented their indelible contribution to a society that viewed both Catholics and Italian Americans with suspicion.Ĭelebrations of Columbus gained momentum as Italian immigration grew from a trickle to a flood. But before the late 19th century, the celebrations were mainly limited to Catholic and Italian American enclaves on the East Coast, where many embraced Columbus as an intrepid explorer who embodied progress and bravery. It was the beginning of a new era in the history of the Western Hemisphere-an event commemorated in the U.S. The Italian navigator’s three ships, sailing at the behest of the Spanish crown, would soon land, likely on an island known to its Lucayan residents as Guanahaní. On October 12, 1492, after a voyage of 10 weeks, Christopher Columbus’ crew spotted the New World. Lithograph via Bridgeman Images Early Columbus Day celebrations Indigenous people faced the threat of being kidnapped, enslaved, and raped at hands of the colonizers. Right: This illustration depicts Indigenous people jumping into the water out of fear after hearing a cannon shot fired by Europeans.
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