(De)Coloniality in the celebrations of October 12 in Latin America

Abstract

The 12th of October 1492 remarks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the territory that will be named as America. This date is celebrated in many Hispanic American countries and, in some, it is considered a national holiday. Initially known as Día de la Raza in recent decades, several countries have changed the name given to these celebrations, denoting a process of cultural resistance by the indigenous and African Americans peoples. This article addresses the establishment and the designations of the celebrations of October 12, promoting a reflection on the multifaceted character of this date. The reflections start from the decolonial perspective, which allows us to understand how the Eurocentrism was established, which caused the silencing of groups that were subordinated. In this scenario, the possibilities of decolonization of of practices and epistemes are visualized, based on the struggles for the recognition of the diversity that exists in Latin American inter and pluricultural societies.