cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/53913864

Columbus’s journal entry for that day describes the people he encountered:

They should be good servants and intelligent, for I observed that they quickly took in what was said to them, and I believe that they would easily be made Christians, as it appeared to me that they had no religion. I, our Lord being pleased, will take hence, at the time of my departure, six natives for your Highnesses, that they may learn to speak.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taíno_genocide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_exchange

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)