To Italian Americans, Columbus Day is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage and the significant contributions that Italian immigrants have made to the United States of America. However, based on Waka Flocka Flame’s latest tweet, it is safe to say that he doesn’t feel the same way.
The American rapper took to X to challenge Donald J. Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election, to abolish Columbus Day on the grounds that it is disrespectful towards Black people. “As a what’s called Blackman in United States this holiday is a spit in our faces,” said Waka. “Thanks from Waka Flocka Flame and the People!!!”
The timing of this claim is as peculiar as the statement itself. Columbus Day was over 15 weeks ago, and with Italian American Heritage Month (October) nowhere in sight, it seems odd that the Atlanta rapper would make this plea right at the beginning of the new year. The 2024 election is even further away, and if Trump were to eventually become president, he would not have the power to simply remove a federal holiday without an act of Congress. This is all assuming Trump would entertain such a request, which is highly unlikely given his support for Columbus Day and Columbus statues during his first presidential term.
Frankly, Waka would likely find a more sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden who, unlike Trump, chooses to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day each year.
Waka Flocka Flame, whose real name is Juaquin James Malphurs, is of African American, Dominican, European (including Italian), and Native American descent. Yet, he simply identifies himself as a “Blackman” in the post and seemingly ignores his Italian ancestry in shunning Columbus Day, which was originally celebrated as an atonement for the mass lynching of 11 Italian-Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
His claim that the holiday is disrespectful to Black Americans does not make a lot of sense. Columbus was adamantly against the idea of enslaving the Indigenous tribes he encountered and never owned a slave. The explorer went as far as requesting that priests be sent to the New World in order to baptize the natives. This was because, under Spanish law, a baptized person could not be enslaved. Not only did Columbus take measures to prevent slavery from taking place upon his arrival in the West Indies, but he also left explicit instructions to the other Spaniards who accompanied him on his voyage to not mistreat the Taíno people. When these orders were disobeyed, he had two of his own men executed to set the example that this behavior would not be tolerated. I guess you could say that he took the concept of “No Hands” to the extreme (No, Christopher Columbus did not order the hands of natives who didn’t collect enough gold to be cut off – see “Blood for gold” by Columbus expert Rafael Oritz), but it would be inaccurate to state that Christopher Columbus was anything but respectful and friendly to the Taíno upon arrival in San Salvador in 1492. This is reflected in the first-hand accounts of Columbus’ voyage to the Americas.
“I believe that in the world there are no better people or a better land,” says Columbus in his journal. “They love their neighbors as themselves, and they have the sweetest speech in the world; and [they are] gentle and always laughing.”
Perhaps Waka Flocka should spend more time reading the primary source material surrounding Columbus’ expeditions and less time on his recently released single “YAH YAH YAH” to gain a better understanding of the holiday and the man it represents.
Stupid moolie! My nonni always said there is no such thing as a Black Italian. He is living proof! They tried that stupid BLM movement here in Cleveland. They destroyed down town, but were very cautious and avoided Little Italy at all cost. Even our Italian stores were left alone, as our paisans were locked and loaded, awaiting their ignorant arrival. You can even see this on you tube, a black passer buyer even says leave them alone as they are clinching on to their AR-15’s. My point is this. They want respect, but don’t give it. They have all their own channels on TV, all black schools, etc. they just want someone else to be their new victims, so they choose us or the the Jewish community. I have no room for hate for them as they are inconsequential in my life to give 2 “F”’s about. The feds always in our business, the should jump on the BLM movement, which stands for Burn, Loot, Murder. Hell, Black people sold themselves to the whites for money. That were the Portugese, Spaniards and French. Our people were never slave traders. Blacks sold themselves out, and want everyone’s else to pay for it. What’s even more funny, Democrats were the slave owners, not the Republicans. The first black men voted to congress were all Republican. If you look in Democratic run states, California, Oregon, Illinois, NY, Washington, etc. Crime is at an all time high, and black on black crimes are at the forefront of all of it. It’s easier for them to play the blame game than to accept responsibility for their own actions! L’omu chi para niente!
What a tool. Make that suggestion on Mulberry Street and see how it goes.