Video: “Lost History: Rediscovering the Taino People”

When watching this documentary, it left me dismayed by showcasing the real history of where Taino people came from. What disturbed me when watching this documentary is how poorly and overworked the Taino people were being treated. The amount of violence the Taino people had to endure was absolutely disturbing to hear. What I found fascinating about the documentary is how much pride Taíno people took on being Taino. To add on, what I also found to be disturbing is how a Spaniard accused a Taino of stealing leading to the Spaniard cutting off the Taino’s ear. What I found interesting about the film is the history of Taino heritage.

Reading: “Letter of Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to america,1492”

In the reading what I find interesting is that Hispaniola is the most accessible place for gold mines. To add on, another thing that I found interesting about the reading is Christopher Columbus perceive on people’s native heritage. One thing that disturbed me the most while reading this letter is the monsters that supposedly possesses canoes and eat human flesh.

Mouhamadou bah

RNG 2200

Professor Noonan

9/9/23

VIDEO:  Lost history of the Taino people.

I found the documentary video on the lost history of the Taino people very disturbing to me, because of all the horrors the Taino people suffered at the hands of the people they thought were sent from heaven. A key theme that I believe people should think about after watching this video is what colonization looks/looks like. I know that everybody’s history of colonization is messed up, but this video proves how it looks for the colonizers and the colonized.

For example, we see images of the Taino people being overworked, beaten half to death, and dismembered. Some even killed their offspring and committed suicide.

And it’s really disturbing because the more I look at it the more I think that those colonizers had no morals. I know those were different times, but I keep wondering how a human being could do that to another human being.

At the end of the video, it is explained that luckily there are still people who are or think of themselves as Taino and I guess not killing all the Taino had something come out of it.

READING: An optimistic letter by Columbus “On His First Voyage to  America, 1492”

I found the letter by Colombus very interesting to read because I had always thought that Columbus was a major colonizer. I had read stories of how he colonized most of West Africa the moment he stepped foot in it, but after reading this I feel like I was a bit biased because of the histories I learned.

His letter “On his first voyage to America” explained the way he saw the Taino Indians and their home in very detailed ways. He describes by mentioning the mountains, the trees, the resources, the people, and the gold. It talks about how he treated the Taino people, with kindness and goodness and how they treated him in return with goodness, care, love, and admiration. He talks about the places he visited and claimed his king, queen, and country. And the allies he made by introducing his culture and religion to the people who had none. It’s all so fascinating. He also talks about how timid these people are and how they do not know how to protect themselves, which makes it easier to dispose of anyone who does not accept their rule.

But I also think it’s too bad that he sent that letter, describing all the beautiful things you could find on this island. Because after he did the Taino people suffered a lot.

I think he should have chosen his wording wisely because if he had thousands of people would not have suffered because of his letter.

In “On His First Voyage to America, 1492,” Bob Kaufman reflects on Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas. The poem emphasizes the idea of discovery and exploration. Columbus is depicted throughout the sonnet as a pioneer venturing into an unexplored world. The sonnet catches the feeling of energy and interest that frequently goes with investigation. Furthermore, it indicates that disclosure isn’t limited to real places but can also include novel thoughts, societies, and viewpoints.

Taking a broader perspective, the sonnet explores our desire to explore and grow skylines, as well as the outcomes of such investigations, which can be both positive and negative. Columbus’ journey signified a critical crossroads in history, resulting in the experience of different societies and the exchange of information and products, but it also had significant and often obliterating effects on the natives. Sonnet presents a verifiable view of Columbus’ journey, emphasizing the energy and expectation of the journey. It was fascinating to see this verifiable event from a different perspective.

What was most disturbing is that before the urbanization of New York, the district was portrayed as a different and lively normal world, including woods, wetlands, waterways, and different types of greenery. It features the effect of human settlement and improvement on the climate and how it modified the biological equilibrium of the area. The narrative could feature the critical natural changes and territory annihilation that happened as New York City was created.