We need to stop celebrating Columbus Day — immediately.

The story that we learned about Christopher Columbus could not be further from the truth. He was a colonizer, enslaver, and sex trafficker who committed genocide against Indigenous Peoples. Don't believe me? Listen in and decide for yourself.

By celebrating Columbus Day, our country has erased the history of Native Americans, and now is the time to give it back by celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Common myths about Christopher Columbus
• The 3 reasons why Columbus' crusade was different from others who had traveled to the Americas
• What happened once Columbus arrived
• The origins of Columbus Day in the United States
• Ideas about what we should do in response to this violent history

Race Talk Roadmap

Our Race Talk Roadmap is the tool you need to begin conversations about race and racism with your children! We have a list of three tips for parents of older children and a list of three tips for parents of younger children. Visit firstnamebasis.org/racetalk to get the Race Talk Roadmap sent straight to your inbox.

Ally Elementary

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast. So this October we are launching "Ally Elementary: Anti-Racist Education For Families."

During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

Click here to the waitlist!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen (affiliate link)

Rethinking Columbus

How Columbus Sailed into U.S. History, Thanks to Italians

Who Were the Olmec?

Whose History Matters? Students Can Name Columbus, But Most Have Never Heard of the Taino People

Taino: Indigenous Carribeans

Christopher Columbus and the Doctrine of Discovery

Resource Guide: Abolish Columbus Day: Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

UN Definition of Genocide

The History of Columbus Day