>> YOU AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEET.

>> BECAUSE WHAT I TREAT IS SO RARE.

>> BUT IF YOU NEED ME, I'M HERE.

>> I'M HERE.

>> I AM HERE.

>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> THESE KIDS GO THROUGH A LOT AT HOME.

NEED TO FEEL LIKE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HAVING A RACIALLY DIVERSE POOL OF TEACHERS HELPS STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT THERE ARE VERY TANGIBLE RESULTS.

DECREASED SUSPENSION.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO SAY IF YOU MOVE BEYOND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AS A HISTORIC PFISTER -- FIGURE YOU ARE ERASING HISTORY.

>> WE HAVE REALLY HAD TO WHITEWASH A GREAT DEAL OF THE AGE OF EXPLORATION.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

WE BEGIN WITH THE STORY ABOUT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE HAS BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN RHODE ISLAND.

RECENT STATISTICS FOUND THAT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IN PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IDENTIFY AS STUDENTS OF COLOR, MOST OF THE TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT ARE WHITE.

ALTHOUGH RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HAVING A TEACHER OF THE SAME RACE IMPROVES STUDENT PERFORMANCE, TEACHERS OF COLOR FACE BARRIERS.

THERE ARE HURDLES THAT MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY.

A LOCAL NONPROFIT IS WORKING TO CHANGE ALL THAT BY TRANSFORMING THE FACE OF TEACHING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

>> THIS ISN'T A TYPICAL CLASSROOM.

THESE ADULT LEARNERS MEET EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

MANY HAVE SPENT YEARS IF NOT DECADES WORKING IN RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS AS TEACHING ASSISTANTS OR TEAYS.

-- TA'S.

>> >> I'M GOING TO HAVE 24 YEARS IN DECEMBER AS A TA.

I'M A TRANSLATOR, I'M ACCOUNTS LATER -- A COUNSELOR, EVERYTHING.

>> THEY ARE WORKING TO EARN THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND TEACHING CERTIFICATES WITHIN THREE YEARS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT FOR TONIGHT'S THINKING ABOUT ONE OF -- WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE SEMESTER.

>> THE ORGANIZATION'S CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER WANTS TO DIVERSIFY THE TEACHING WORKFORCE.

HE SAYS ONE WAY TO DO IT IS TO REACH OUT TO EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING IN SUPPORT ROLES INSIDE SCHOOLS LIKE TAS.

>> NUMBER ONE THEY OFTEN ARE MORE RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE.

THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE MANY OF THEM WITH KIDS AS COMPARED TO SOMEBODY WHO MAY BE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE ON A TRADITIONAL PATHWAY.

>> THE EQUITY INSTITUTE PARTNERED WITH COLLEGE UNBOUND TO CREATE WHAT THEY CALL THE TA FELLOWSHIP.

SOME ATTEND CLASSES VIRTUALLY.

>> WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ADULTS THAT HAVEN'T GONE THE TRADITIONAL PATHWAY WHO HAVE WORKED.

>> SINCE THE TAS WORK DURING THE DAY.

THE EQUITY INSTITUTE PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND MOST STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS.

DENISE AND ANGEL ARE IN THEIR SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE WORKED AS TAS IN PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS COMBINED.

>> HOW ARE PROVIDENCE STUDENTS BETTER SERVED WHEN THERE ARE MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> SOMETIMES YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO -- THERE'S NO ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM.

THERE IS NO ONE THAT REFLECTS YOU.

FOR KIDS HAVING SOMEONE TO CHOOSE FROM IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE OR WANT TO TALK ABOUT, SHE REMINDS ME OF MY AUNT SALLY.

THAT IDENTIFIABLE THING JUST BY THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN SOMETIMES MAKES IT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR KIDS.

THE TEACHERS ARE AMAZING, I JUST WANT TO SEE MORE DIVERSITY.

>> DENISE AGREES.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE APPROACHING HER THAN A TEACHER.

SHE REMEMBERS CALLING A MOTHER WHOSE CHILD WASN'T IN SCHOOL.

>> THEY WERE LIKE, I HAVE TO TELL YOU I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO WASH CLOTHES THIS WEEKEND.

THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO SEND MY SON WITHOUT CLEAN CLOTHES.

HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE IN TOMORROW.

BECAUSE SHE KNOWS ME AND I LIVE IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WASH CLOTHES IN THE SAME LAUNDROMAT.

I THINK SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE HER BUT I'M ALSO IN THE SAME SOCIAL ECONOMIC AS HER.

>> 94% OF STUDENTS IN PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLSIDENTIFY AS BEING OF COLOR.

ONLY 22% OF THE TEACHERS ARE.

61% OF TEACHERS ASSISTANCE IDENTIFY AS BEING OF COLOR.

RHODE ISLAND'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER SAYS SHE'S WORKING TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITY.

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN INTENTIONAL PIPELINE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A RECRUITER OR SOMEBODY WHO GOES OUT INTO THE FIELD AND FINDS TEACHERS THAT ARE OF COLOR.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED IT RAISED $3.1 MILLION.

>> THAT MONEY IS TO INCENTIVIZE TEACHERS TO COME INTO OUR SYSTEM OF COLOR AND IT'S A LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

IN THE FIRST YEAR TEACHERS WILL GET $6,000 AND THE SECOND YEAR WILL BE 8500 AND THE THIRD YEAR WILL BE 10,500 SO THAT IS A BIG DEAL FOR TEACHERS.

ESPECIALLY TEACHERS OF COLOR THAT HAVE TAKEN OUT LOANS TO BECOME TEACHERS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD AND MAKES THE PROFESSION MORE ENTICING FOR US.

>> TEACHER DIVERSITY ISN'T JUST A PROVIDENCE PROBLEM.

A LACK OF BLACK TEACHERS CAN BE TRACED TO THE AFTERMATH OF BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> MANY BLACK EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE LET GO.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COURTS RULE.

WE NEED A COMBINED BLACK AND WHITE SCHOOLS.

NOW THE ISSUE BECOMES WHICH SCHOOL STAYS, WHICH SCHOOL DOESN'T STAY.

IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, THE BLACK SCHOOL AND UP BEING ELIMINATED IN THE WHITE SCHOOL STAYED.

THE WHITE STAFF WAS HELD ON IN THE BLACK STAFF WAS LET GO.

>> THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP HAS ALSO HELD TEACHERS OF COLOR BACK FROM PURSUING TEACHING CAREERS.

>> IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT YOU HAVE OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT OTHER THAN JUST BEING A TEACHER.

IF YOU ARE A BLACK FEMALE COMING AND EDUCATOR, IT IS LESS LIKELY THAT YOU HAVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT CAN BOLSTER YOUR FINANCIAL EARNINGS.

WE SOLVE ALL THE WORLDS PROBLEMS IN A CLASSROOM BUT THEN WE PAY THEM NOTHING COMPARED TO OTHER PROFESSIONS.

>> ALL OF THIS HAS HURT NOT JUST TEACHERS BUT STUDENTS.

>> WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A BLACK BOY HAVING A BLACK TEACHER IN FRONT OF HIM?

>> FROM A RESEARCH STANDPOINT WE ARE SEEING THAT THERE ARE VERY TANGIBLE RESULTS.

IMPROVED ATTENDANCE RATE.

DECREASED SUSPENSION RATES.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE FROM EMERGING RESEARCH THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FROM STUDENTS WHO SHARE THE IDENTITIES BUT STUDENTS IN GENERAL WHEN THEY SEE BLACK AND BROWN EDUCATORS.

>> A STUDY BY THE INSTITUTE OF LABOR ECONOMICS FOUND FOR THE MOST DISADVANTAGED BLACK MALES, CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT EXPOSURE TO A BLACK TEACHER IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CUTS HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES 39%.

FEMALE STUDENTS IN PROVIDENCE SAY THERE ARE BENEFITS FOR THEM, TOO.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A TEACHER WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU?

>> IS SOMEBODY WHO CAN CONNECT TO YOU AND HAVE AN ADULT ALLY YOU CAN SPEAK WITH ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE.

>> THE TEACHERS ARE MOSTLY WHITE.

>> THEY ARE CODIRECTORS OF THE PROVIDENCE STUDENT UNION'S LEADERSHIP TEAM.

>> JUST BEING IN A LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T RELATE TO THAT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR TEACHERS ARE WHITE AND THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR HAIR IS DIFFERENT.

YOUR EXPERIENCES IN GENERAL ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RACIAL DIVERSITY.

STUDENTS LIVE IN HOMES WHERE ENGLISH IS NOT THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE.

>> YOU HAVE TEACHERS COME IN WITH THE STUDENT WITH THEIR WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THE TEACHER THAT THE TEACHER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND.

IF I WASN'T IN THE BUILDING, HOW WERE THEY GOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THIS CHILD.

AT THAT MOMENT I WAS THE ONLY SPANISH SPEAKER.

>> YOU GOT ALL THE EXPERIENCE THAN SOMEONE WHO IS 22 COMING OUT OF COLLEGE.

>> THE COMMISIONER SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM AND HOPES IT INSPIRES MORE TAS OF COLOR TO BECOME TEACHERS.

>> THEY REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE REALLY PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

MOST OF OUR TEACHERS ALREADY IN OUR SYSTEM DON'T LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY OF THEM ARE STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN REALLY GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY BE PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK THE PART THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IS WHEN ONE STUDENT OF COLOR GRADUATES, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

>> IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ANGEL TO PURSUE HER DREAM.

>> WHEN I BECOME A TEACHER, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT SAME RESPECT TO THE TAS.

AS TAS, WE ARE THE ONES THAT HOLD UP THE SUPPORT BEAMS.

>> KARL AND HOWARD SAYS LOW PAY AND STRESS ARE TWO OF THE REASONS TEACHERS OF COLOR AND LEAVE THE WORKFORCE AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

THIS MONTH IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLORES THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT WAS ONCE THE LONGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE IN NEW ENGLAND.

SENDER WILLIAM HENRY VANDERBILT THE THIRD -- THE ROAD TO THE CREATION OF THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE WAS FAR FROM SMOOTH.

THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE REPLACES.

IT WAS LEGISLATORS FROM THE BRISTOL SIDE WHO FIRST ADVOCATED FOR THE CREATION OF A BRIDGE.

IT'S WILLIAM CONNERY IN BRISTOL WHO FIRST GOES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1920 AND ARGUES THAT A BRIDGE IS NEEDED BETWEEN BRISTOL AND PORTSMOUTH.

THE REASON HE SAYS IT'S NEEDED IS BECAUSE SO MANY SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES CANNOT GET SECESSION IN PROVIDENCE IN THE WINTER BECAUSE THE FERRY CANNOT TRAVEL ACROSS FROZEN WATER.

HE SAYS IT'S A VERY PRACTICAL CONCERN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY NEED A BRIDGE SO THE WORK OF THE STATE CAN CONTINUE IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

IN 1920, PEOPLE ARE REALLY SAYING, IS THIS WORTH THE MONEY?

ARE CARS GOING TO BECOME SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED THIS KIND OF PASSAGE?

IN THIS PERIOD A LOT OF OUR POLITICIANS ARE VERY WELL CONNECTED AND THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE EXPANSION OF OUR ROADWAYS AND OUR BRIDGES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED TO MOVE GOODS AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

THE STATE IS STILL CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE OUTLAY OF MONEY.

THEY ARE NOT CONVINCED THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT MONEY BACK.

THEY CREATE THE LEGISLATION FOR THE BRIDGE, BUT THEY CREATE WHAT IS CALLED THE NEW HOPE BRIDGE COMPANY TO BE THE PRIVATE OWNERS OF THIS BRIDGE.

IN THAT WAY IT WILL BECOME A PRIVATE TOLL BRIDGE WHICH WE'VE HAD ON A SMALLER SCALE ON THE STATE ALREADY AND THAT COMPANY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF COLLECTING THE TOLLS AND THE STATE FEELS THIS IS A SAFER WAY TO GO.

IN TERMS OF THEIR INVESTMENT.

IT OPENS WITH TREMENDOUS FANFARE ON OCTOBER 24, 1929.

THIS DATE MIGHT RING A BELL TO SOME OF YOU AND THAT'S BECAUSE JUST FIVE DAYS LATER, THE STOCK MARKET CRASHES.

AND KICKS OFF WHAT WOULD BECOME A GLOBAL DEPRESSION.

THE LIKES OF WHICH WE'D NEVER REALLY SEEN BEFORE.

THIS BRIDGE QUICKLY FALLS VICTIM TO THAT AS WELL.

BY 1931, THE BRIDGE COMPANY IS PURCHASED BY SOMEONE WHO OWNS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF LAND IN BRISTOL AND HE OWNS THE BRIDGE AND THE BRIDGE COMPANY.

ONE BENEFIT OF IT GOING INTO THE HANDS OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IS THAT WHILE UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, AND THIS IS 1920'S AND 30'S IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP THAT IS UNRIVALED, THE TOLL WAS ONE WAY, $.60 AND ROUND-TRIP ONE DOLLAR.

WHEN THE STATE OBTAINS THE BRIDGE, THE TOLL GOES DOWN TO $.30 EACH WAY.

IN 1990 EIGHT, THE TOLL IS ERADICATED.

IT SHOWS AND DEMONSTRATES THE FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL POWER OF THE STATE AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT JUST LOCAL POLITICIANS BUT WHO ARE KNOWN FIGURES ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRIAL POWER THAT IT COULD BRING TO BEAR.

THE REPUTATION OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IS VERY MUCH EMBODIED IN THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE.

A BRIDGE THAT MARRIES THE BEAUTY OF THE ART DECO TIME PERIOD WITH THE ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THAT MOMENT AS WELL.

>> THANKS TO THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

THE MOUNT HOPE RIDGE REMAINED THE LONGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE IN NEW ENGLAND FOR 40 YEARS OPENED IN 1969.

NOW WE TURN TO A BIT OF MYTHMAKING.

NEXT WEEK, MUCH OF THE COUNTRY WILL CELEBRATE COLUMBUS DAY.

FOR GENERATIONS, HISTORY BOOKS TALKED ABOUT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS JOURNEY IN 1492 WHEN HE DISCOVERED WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES.

BUT DID HE?

COLUMBUS ACTUALLY MADE THE WRONG TURN, MISSING THE MASS ENTIRELY.

SO HOW DID HE BECOME THIS HISTORICAL ICON?

BILL BARTHOLOMEW HAS THE STORY.

>> CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS A REAL HISTORICAL FIGURE THAT HE HAS TURNED INTO AN AMERICAN KING ARTHUR.

YOU NEED A FOUNDING STORY.

>>.

BACK STORY IS SOMETHING EDWARD BRAD MILLER HAS WRITTEN ABOUT.

MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE ALL COME TO KNOW ABOUT COLUMBUS INCLUDING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAPLE IN 1492 COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE NARRATIVE IS AT BEST AN EXAGGERATION.

>> HE WAS CHOSEN AS A UNIFYING FIGURE THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IN 1792 WAS BARELY A COUNTRY.

THE INK WAS BARELY DRY ON THE CONSTITUTION AND THERE WAS NO MEANINGFUL SENSE IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES WAS POLITICALLY UNIFIED AS THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS GOING TO BE TIED TO WHAT WAS A COLONY AND WAS NOW A STATE OR CITY THEY LIVED IN OR REGION.

THE IDEA OF THE UNITED STATES AS A UNIFIED WHOLE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST.

>> FOR MILLIS AS THE FOUNDING FATHERS WANTED TO CREATE A DEEPER BACK STORY.

WHEN THAT DID NOT ELEVATE A LIVING PERSON TO THE ROLE OF FOUNDER.

>> THERE WAS A SENSE THAT THEY NEEDED A HISTORICAL FIGURE WRITER THAN PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON SOMEBODY WHO WAS A CURRENT POLITICAL FIGURE LIKE WASHINGTON.

THEY WEREN'T REALLY CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTRY SO MUCH AS THEY WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VIRGINIA PLANTER CLASS.

>> THAT WAS THE BEST THING HE HAD GOING IN HIS FAVOR.

IN AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP NATIONAL UNITY, THE FOUNDING FATHERS DECIDED TO INCORPORATE COLUMBUS AS A QUASIMYTHOLOGICAL FIGUREHEAD DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE HAD NEVER STEPPED FOOT IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, HAD EXPLORED THE SO-CALLED NEW WORLD .

AS TIME WENT ON, COLUMBUS'S ROLE AS THE PERSON WHO DISCOVERED THE UNITED STATES WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE HIS CULTURAL CONNECTION TO HIS HERITAGE ON THE PENINSULA KNOWN TODAY AS ITALY.

>> FAST FORWARDING TO FOLKS WHO HAVE RETAINED COLUMBUS AS THIS CULTURAL ICON SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF ITALIAN DISSENT.

>> THE CONNECTION TO ITALIAN AMERICANS DIDN'T COME UNTIL NEARLY 150 YEARS INTO COLUMBUS'S ROLE AS THE FOUNDING FIGURE.

IN 1792 AND THEN A CENTURY AFTER THAT IN 1893, THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CELEBRATED COLUMBUS FROM AN AMERICAN FOUNDING FIGURE PERSPECTIVE.

>> PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF COLUMBUS DAY AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 1934, COLUMBUS SIMPLY UNDERSTOOD TO BE AN EXPLORER THAT DISCOVERED AMERICA AND THAT IS SPINACH AND GENOVESE -- HIS SPANISH AND GENOVESE ROOTS WERE NEVER MENTIONED.

COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATIONS ULTIMATELY.

>> GOT TIED UP WITH THE APPEASEMENT OF ITALIAN AMERICANS AS A VOTING BLOCK.

AN ATTEMPT TO POLITICALLY REACH OUT TO THE POLITICS OF THE EARLY 20 CENTURY.

THAT'S WHEN ITALIAN AMERICANS AND COLUMBUS CAME INTERTWINED.

>> A COLUMBUS STATUE IN RHODE ISLAND STOOD IN THE ELMWOOD SECTION OF PROVIDENCE FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE STATUE HAS DRAWN SIGNIFICANT IRE AND HAS BEEN DEFACED WITH PAINT MULTIPLE TIMES IN PROTEST.

ULTIMATELY THE STATUE WAS REMOVED ALTOGETHER.

>> IF YOU MOVE BEYOND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS YOU ARE ERASING HISTORY.

>> WE HAVE ERASED A LOT OF HISTORY IN ORDER TO MAKE COLUMBUS A FOUNDING FIGURE.

PART OF MAKING THIS YOUR FOUNDING FIGURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEBODY UNIVERSALLY REVIEWED, SOMEBODY WHO IS NONCONTROVERSIAL.

AGAIN I GO BACK TO THE EXAMPLE OF THE ENGLISH AND KING ARTHUR WHO WASN'T EVEN A REAL PERSON.

IN ORDER TO MAKE COLUMBUS THAT PERSON FOR THE UNITED STATES WE REALLY HAD TO WHITEWASH A GREAT DEAL OF THE AGE OF EXPLORATION AND MUCH OF IT INCLUDING WHAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT COLUMBUS DURING AND SHORTLY AFTER HIS LIFETIME WAS VERY UNFLATTERING TOWARDS HIM.

>> WHAT'S UP PRAGMATIC PATHWAY FORWARD TO GET FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ON BOARD WITH THE NOTION THAT IT'S NOT REMOVING STATUES BUT REINTERPRETING AND PROBABLY PROPERLY INTERPRETING HISTORY IN TERMS OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS?

>> MY VIEW IS WE HAVE TO CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND AMERICA AS A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FOUNDER.

THIS IS NOT A NATION WHERE WE CAN POINT TO A SPECIFIC PERSON WHO WON A BATTLE AT A SPECIFIC POINT IN HISTORY AND SAY HE LAID THE FOUNDING CORNERSTONE FOR THE SOCIETY.

THIS IS A COUNTRY WHERE OUR HISTORY AND FOUNDING HAS UNFOLDED PAINFULLY SLOWLY IF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS NOT CELEBRATED, THE ANSWER IS NOT TO SIMPLY REPLACE HIM.

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS IN MY VIEW WE DON'T HAVE A FOUNDER IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE HAVE UNFOLDED.

>> THE FATE OF THE COLUMBUS STATUE IN PROVIDENCE REMAINS UNSETTLED.

AND TONIGHT'S COMMENTARY, LILA ALPHONSE TALKS ABOUT THE STATUE AND THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATIONS.

>> AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTS AND VANDALISM, THE STATUTE WAS REMOVED IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

THE CITY'S COMMEMORATIVE WORKS COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED IT BE SOLD.

THE DEBATE OVER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATUE AND OVER HONORING COLUMBUS HIMSELF EVERY OCTOBER CONTINUES.

AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MONUMENTS AND PRESERVING HISTORY, IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS WAS NOT CREATED TO COMMEMORATE COLUMBUS.

IT WAS CREATED TO SHOW OFF THE FOUNDRY SKILL AND SHOWING OFF A COMPLICATED WORK IN TRICKY TO USE STERLING SILVER.

AFTER THE STATUE HAD BEEN SHOWING OFF, IT WAS MELTED DOWN.

THE BRONZE ONE CURRENTLY IN STORAGE WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY AS A GIFT.

WHILE THE STATUE IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IT'S CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT NOT BECAUSE OF WHO IT DEPICTS BUT BECAUSE OF THE SCULPTOR WHO DESIGNED IT AND THE FOUNDRY CREATED IT.

WHEN IT COMES TO COLUMBUS DAY IN AMERICA THERE IS PLENTY OF CONTROVERSY TO GO AROUND AND THE SIGNIFICANCE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

SOME STILL SEE COLUMBUS AS A SORT OF SAVIOR WHO DISCOVERED THE NEW WORLD EVEN THOUGH OTHER EXPLORERS LANDED HERE EARLIER.

MY FATHER IS FROM HAITI.

WHERE COLUMBUS IS NOT REALLY SEEN AS SOMEONE TO CELEBRATE.

MANY PEOPLE POINT TO THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY COLUMBUS AND SUGGEST WE INSTEAD CELEBRATE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HE SUBJUGATED AND WIPED OUT.

OTHERS TAKE OFFENSE AT THE IDEA OF REPLACING OR IGNORING COLUMBUS DAY.

I SAY LET'S REFOCUS THE HOLIDAY ON CELEBRATING HERITAGE RATHER THAN HIGHLIGHTING THE DUBIOUS COMPLIMENTS -- ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ONE PERSON.

WE CAN STILL CELEBRATE ITALIAN AMERICAN CULTURE WITHOUT CREDITING THE BULK OF IT TO COLUMBUS.

>> I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

>> I'M PAMELA WATTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

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