Finally, a Perfect Term for When White People “Discover” Things (includes a hilarious yet sad video from CollegeHumor)
At some point in their adolescence, most people will come to learn that the oft-taught grade school tidbit that Christopher Columbus “discovered” the Americas is, at best, a significant stretching of the truth. They’ll also soon realize that Columbus’ claim to fame is only one example in a long historical pattern of white people taking credit for uncovering “new” things that actually existed long before they were aware of them.
And so it’s only logical that someone would put two and two together and finally coin the perfect term for this infuriating habit: “Columbusing.”
I will openly admit that I have Columbused many times before, including right here on DK. I am not proud of that. But it's important for those of us who enjoy various institutionalized privileges to realize that when we finally, finally became aware of such privileges, then with that awareness must come the understanding that to those who had been trying, pleading with us to understand, we must admit that they were right all along.
Let's call it out. What Columbusing have you seen, heard, or participated in? How can those of us with privilege avoid Columbusing as the scales of blindness fall off our eyes, once we become aware of he truth?