IAP 112 : “When did Columbus become an Italian American?” An honest exploration of the history of the Columbus Day holiday

Oct 15, 2019 1599

BY: Anthony Fasano

Happy Columbus Day everyone!  Or is it “Happy Indigenous Peoples Day”?  Or “Happy Italian American Heritage Day”? In recent years, a holiday that was celebrated for centuries without controversy (save for some of the garish green-white-and-red outfits it inspired) has become a hot-button issue that hits at the heart of Italian identity in America.
 
As some communities opt to re-examine the legacy of the holiday’s namesake navigator, Italian Americans across the nation are finding themselves fighting to defend a figure clouded in historical mystery and a holiday that, for many, had come to represent the Italian contribution to the United States.

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SOURCE: https://italianamericanpodcast.com

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