PragerU's Will Witt traveled to North Carolina to chat with students at Wake Forest University to get their takes on whether Columbus Day (Oct. 8 this year) should be celebrated. (Image source: Facebook video screenshot)
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Given the escalating controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus and charges the explorer was responsible for genocide of indigenous people after he landed in the Americas centuries ago, PragerU's Will Witt traveled to North Carolina to chat with students at Wake Forest University to get their takes on the iconic figure — and whether Columbus Day (Oct. 8 this year) should be celebrated.
Image source: Facebook video screenshot
The students' responses were often hilarious — and a little bit sad.
What did students have to say?
As you might guess, most students had negative opinions about Columbus.
"He sucked," one student said. "He was a pretty terrible person."
"He kicked some foreigners out of their homeland," another guy noted.
When asked what year Columbus sailed (1492), one student was only 300 years short: "1792?" she answered.
Perhaps the most telling portion of the interviews came when Witt asked students if they knew the names of the three ships that set sail — while wearing a shirt with the correct names: Pinta, Nina, Santa Maria.
Image source: Facebook video screenshot
"No idea," one student answered.
A couple of students actually answered "the Mayflower" — including one guy who did seem to know quite a bit about Columbus' treatment of indigenous people, which makes one wonder what was emphasized to him during history classes.
Image source: Facebook video screenshot
Indeed, he suggested changing the name of "Columbus Day" to "Kicking Foreigners Out of Their Territory Day."
When students were asked if the U.S. should give back its land to Native Americans, the reaction was mixed — and also quite illuminating with regard to core values.
One student who seemed very well versed in the history of Columbus and is not a fan by any means needed a few seconds to answer if the U.S. should give back its land and get out.
"We're still working on acknowledging that we had American slavery for 400 years," she replied. "So I would advise baby steps."
Image source: Facebook video screenshot
Others seemed keen on getting out.
"I think so," one student said.
"Yeah, why not?" another replied.
Check out the clip:
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