There is No Post-Colonial World | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

There is No Post-Colonial World

Content Note: This article contains discussion of colonialism, racist violence, and ableist and racist eugenics.

137
There is No Post-Colonial World

Content Note: This article contains discussion of colonialism, racist violence, and ableist and racist eugenics.

I find it funny when colleges have “Post-Colonial Studies” departments, as if colonialism is gone and done with. It may not be 1492 and Christopher Columbus may not be sailing the ocean blue, but that doesn’t mean that colonialism died with him. In fact, colonialism is still really prevalent.

First, let’s talk a little bit about Columbus. In America, we have a national holiday that celebrates this violent, cruel, and disgusting colonist.

“They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane…They would make fine servants…With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”

Christopher Columbus wrote that in his journal when he first came across the indigenous populations of the “New World.” Notice the rhetoric he utilizes, specifically “ignorance.” The colonial creation of knowledge is always tilted to further the colonial project–favoring the “intelligence” of the colonizer over the “ignorance” of the colonized. This acts as a way to inferiortize the indigenous populations in order to keep them colonized. The “lesser” are considered the “weaker” and ergo are “easily subjugated.”

Bartolome de las Casas, the priest who accompanied Columbus on his quest to Cuba, detailed one of the many brutal genocides committed to the indigenous populations by the settler-colonialists:

“They took infants from their mothers’ breasts, snatching them by the legs and pitching them head first against the crags or snatched them by the arms and threw them into the rivers, roaring with laughter and saying as the babies fell into the water, ‘Boil there, you offspring of the devil!'”

These are direct quotes from their journals. Christopher Columbus was not some amazing guy that should be praised. He was a terrible colonialist. Look at these first hand sources and interpret them for what they are–violent and horrible.

These mindsets have been a part of our history for centuries, so is it really such a surprise that his mindset has been translated to modern times? Why are we trying to hide from the truth? We still live in a colonial world.

The United States still has a bunch of colonies around the world where violent colonial acts are occurring. The following places are still colonized by the US:

  • Puerto Rico
  • US Virgin Islands
  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Hawaii

But, colonialism isn’t only reproduced via colonial “possessions,” there are also micropolitical neocolonial processes that exist to this day. For example, recently a young boy in Texas was denied access to school because his hair is too long. He is a member of the Navajo nation and hair is sacred to them. But, the school denied him entry unless he either cut off his hair to fit the white colonialist dress code, or proved that he was, in fact, a member of the Navajo nation. This is similar to what the colonists do with boarding schools. We tear children from their family’s arms and force the kids into boarding schools where they are assimilated to white culture against their will. When boarding schools were first established, posters plastered the walls that said, “kill the savage, save the man” supporting the continuous cultural and physical genocide of indigenous peoples. The colonizers would then force the families of the indigenous child to take pictures while wearing their traditional garb with their child forced into white garb as a humiliation tactic.

Colonialism is alive and well. Indigenous people are still living on reservations with barely enough resources to survive–blackened drinking water, no electricity, small food portions. We like to turn our back on these things. We like to pretend that we are no longer a violent empire. We like to teach “post-colonial” courses and pretend that everything is fine. Well, it’s not. Reality is a harsh, but we can’t ignore it. Otherwise, problematic names like the R*dskins and problematic practices like reservations will only continue. Awareness is important. Awareness is what helps propel movements (like how Seattle changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.)

Ignorance is not bliss.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

284
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

446733
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

20048
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

43458
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments