On this day, April 2, in 1513

Ponce De Leon became the first European to land on the coast of Florida, immediately claiming the land as Spain’s. The word “discovery” is commonly used to describe this event, the same way it is said that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. In reality, aside from the fact that there were already people living on these lands, there is also evidence of African voyages to the Americas long before Columbus. So why do our history books leave this out? Some say history is a matter of perspective, but I think it is a matter of power as well – the power to decide what is written into history and what is omitted.