As I was at home observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 14, I was thinking about President Biden’s words that Indigenous peoples are a beacon of “strength, courage, and resilience …” and about how I will show up for my Indigenous heritage.
Oct. 14 is recognized as Columbus Day, as well as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. While Columbus was a pioneer, Columbus Day has been de-emphasized in recent years in recognition of Columbus’s documented colonizing atrocities against the natives in the Americas.
But I know that Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of the proud and lasting legacy of Italian Americans.
I celebrate that legacy and admire the Italian people for their proud immigration story where between 1880–1910 more than 2,000,000 Italian people initially immigrated to the U.S. to escape economic hardship, political instability, and corruption after the Italian unification. The story continues with the rise of Mussolini and Fascism.
America was then like it is today – a beacon of opportunity. Italian-American immigrants founded the Bank of America, financed the Golden Gate Bridge, and designed the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, to name just a small sliver of their achievements. These contributions have enriched our country and are worthy of celebration.
October is Italian-American Heritage Month, and I’ll be celebrating a beautiful culture and my Italian-American friends who embody that lasting legacy.
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