Bartolomé de las Casas, a contemporary of Christopher Columbus, witnessed the brutal treatment of indigenous peoples under Columbus and dedicated his life to denouncing it. He described Columbus's actions as barbaric, documenting atrocities like murder, torture, and enslavement, and wrote extensively about the destruction of native societies in works like "The Devastation of the Indies".

Witness to atrocities: Las Casas initially participated in some colonial practices but became a vocal critic after witnessing the cruelty of the Spanish, including Columbus's men, towards the Arawak and Taino people.

Documentation: He documented the systematic violence, forced labor in mines, and the devastating consequences on native populations, writing that his eyewitness accounts showed "cruelty on a scale no living being has ever seen".

Advocacy: Las Casas became a prominent "defender of the Indians," a title given to him by the Spanish crown. He fought for the rights of indigenous peoples through writings, public debates, and by advising colonial governors.

Critique of Columbus: Las Casas chronicled Columbus's pursuit of gold and the enslavement and mutilation of indigenous people, directly contradicting the image of Columbus as a heroic explorer.



You won't read this in K-12 history books. One needs an education past 12th grade to get the real history of the world, either that or have a self driven motivation to learn more about the world around them rather than accept everything that they were taught when a child, but of course you would label that as WOKE