“Columbus’s legacy is the subject of one of the most delicate debates in US society today”, said the Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia opening a two-days virtual workshop organized by the Consulate General and the Cultural Institute of Italy in New York. “Today more than ever, we need to find a viewpoint which recognizes the suffering endured by Native Americans during the first European explorations and, at the same time, preserves the historical significance of the figure of Columbus, an explorer who opened new horizons and created bridges between civilizations”, added the Ambassador, encouraging to “look at Columbus Day celebrations and at those for “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” as complementary, not opposed, and as two sides of the same coin which recognize and honor the roots of the formation of the United States of America”. Ambassador Zappia highlighted that Columbus also represents “the closeness between Italy and the United States and is a powerful symbol for the 18 million Americans of Italian descent”.
The seminar is recorded and is available on the “Stanze Italiane” platform (https://www.stanzeitaliane.it/) of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York. The speakers’ list includes the Consul General in New York, Fabrizio Di Michele; the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Fabio Finotti; Anthony Tamburri, Dean, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, and Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures, Queens College, CUNY; William J. Connell, Professor of History and La Motta Endowed Chair in Italian Studies, Seaton Hall University; Joseph Sciorra, Director, Academic and Cultural Programs, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, CUNY; Alessia Valfredini, Fordham University; Laura Ruberto, Humanities Program, Department of Arts and Cultural Studies – Berkeley City College; Graziella Parati, Paul D. Paganucci Professor of Italian Language and Literature – Dartmouth College; Federico Rampini, La Repubblica (Italian daily); Fred L. Gardaphe, Distinguished Professor in English and Italian American Studies, Queens College, CUNY; Luciano Formisano, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Italian scientific institution); Giulio Busi, Freie Universität – Berlin; Franco Farinelli, Director of the Department of Philosophy and Communication Sciences, University of Bologna.
