When I found out from Heather Cox Richardson that Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. It was at the urging of Sarah Josepha Hale, who was an editor who’d petitioned for years to have a day of thanks, believing gratitude could help heal the country. She also is responsible for some of the staples like turkey and pumpkin pie…oh and she wrote Mary had a little lamb. Crazy, right?

Before that, starting with Washington who declared a day of thanks for winning independence, states had their own days but not coordinated. So for Washington, it was about winning the war and for Lincoln it was about freedom and bringing the nation together…

So why are we all taught it was about the pilgrims sharing a meal with the Native Americans? While a feast did happen in 1621, as Heather puts it, “that moment got forgotten almost immediately, overwritten by the long history of the settlers’ attacks on their indigenous neighbors.”

So, I’ve been thinking about the all pervasive white-washing of history, propaganda, and reframing that is the “American dream.” When I was young and read “The People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, I cried. A lot. It forever changed my view of this country and should be required reading. Seriously. Read it. (Maybe this was in there, but all the other horrors left more of a mark…now that I think about it, I probably blocked out most of the book..maybe time to revisit as an adult.)

But back to Thanksgiving…the image we grew up with of the shared feast and celebration overshadows the truth of colonialism, genocide, and the horrors that we brought to a land we illegally claimed. When the story is, more accurately, one of independence and eventually emancipation. Lincoln was speaking to a divided nation about freedom and blessings and even gave thanks to all the immigrants that stepped in to help build up the country after so many men were killed in the war.

And while this pisses me off, I am grateful that so many people each year are reminded of the damage done in the stealing of this land. Indigenous People’s Day is in our consciousness because of this attempted white-washing, and that is a good thing.

Because now, more than ever, we need to remember who the real illegal immigrants are.

And because I am thankful today, as I am every day, for all the amazing people in my life, I end on a positive and heart full note.

Thanks,

Ps. Remember the economic blackout! Buy nothing from big corporations. Skip the Black Friday bullshit ,and the Cyber Monday money grab and let’s show them who has the real power.