Review of Columbus, Slave Trader

[Immaculate Nabunje Kisakye]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Columbus, Slave Trader" by Marcus Wilson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Columbus, Slave Trader by Marcus Wilson is a powerful yet painful account of how slavery slowly but surely unfolded from formerly altruistic motives of changing a terribly understood culture to match with that of the slave traders.
Marcus Wilson tells of how slavery was a recommendation right from the Church and a direct result of the slavers’ sense of supremacy over the people they found settled in lands unreached before. People who had no concept of the extremist opinions of the people they innocently welcomed graciously.
What started as a bid to teach the Tainoss, “the Indians” Christianity quickly turned ugly when the natives noticed that only Columbus was humane to them, the rest of the Spaniards were all for pillaging. An attempt by the natives led by a courageous chief to fight back briefly won them a period of peace before they were defeated by weapons beyond their experience, knowledge and understanding.
Despite the Spaniards’ crude treatment of the Tainoss, the natives became even more hospitable to their oppressors hoping this would create good relations – all in vain.
The author paints a vivid picture of the power of human resilience when faced with adversity by showing how the native people at first fought for their freedom and then on realizing that they were woefully under armed, tried to be even more hospital to their tormentors once again. Despite their best efforts, the Spaniards stayed determined to profit from the Tainoss in any way, even at the cost of the natives’ freedom.
People who are interested in history, culture and religion will find this a very good read.

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Columbus, Slave Trader
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