US

New Poll Reveals Majority Of Americans Still Support Columbus Day

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Jena Greene Reporter
Font Size:

A new Marist poll reveals that a majority of Americans are actually in favor of celebrating Columbus Day, some 125 years after its founding in 1892.

The poll finds that 56% of Americans have a “favorable view” of Columbus, with 28% reflecting an unfavorable view and the remaining group unsure.

In the same vein, 57% of those surveyed support the holiday being named after the explorer, with 29% against it and the remainder unsure.

But, breaking down those percentages reflects a more complicated story. The poll reported in part:

Black respondents, by a two-to-one margin, had a negative view of Columbus — 54 percent unfavorable compared with 25 percent favorable, with the rest undecided.

By a 54 to 33 percent margin, African-Americans also said it was a bad idea to have a holiday named after Columbus.

Latinos, Millenials and liberals were also more split on Columbus.

Whites and more moderate-to-conservative citizens overwhelmingly back Columbus.

Respondents were also asked “Do you think Christopher Columbus and other historical figures should be judged by the standards of conduct during the time they lived or by the standards of conduct today?”

Over 3/4 of those surveyed said Columbus should be judged based on norms and standards of his time, rather than the norms of today.

In August, Los Angeles voted to cancel Columbus Day entirely, replacing it with “Indigenous Peoples Day.”

Many look to Columbus Day as a celebration of Italian Americans, as well as a way to welcome immigrants and newcomers to America.