In less than two weeks, Thanksgiving will arrive. The need for celebration may not come as easily for those who have lost their homes and have suffered many misfortunes throughout the year. However, one should be thankful for just being alive, shouldn’t they?
Nonetheless, I view Thanksgiving differently from others, even before this current economic crisis. While I always have expressed "thanks" for the many blessings God has bestowed upon me, with underserved communities experiencing destitution, living in substandard housing, and being unable to properly care for their children; afford health care; or just overall survive, how could I be happy? To know many people would be homeless or starving on Thanksgiving certainly does not evoke a "warm, light-hearted feeling".
The lives many Americans have experienced within the past few years, especially within the past year, have been the “ordinary” lives of many individuals for quite some time. Yes, the desolate life of others does intensify my gratefulness; however, as is the case with many middle-class Americans, my family has always been two or three paychecks away from homelessness. Still, this suffering of which I think on Thanksgiving does not discriminate me from others, as I am quite certain other Americans share this same sentiment. My view of Thanksgiving differs given my ethnic background as an individual of both African- and Native American descent. It is for this reason I always have held a jaded view concerning Thanksgiving, knowing its true history— or the true Native American story-- has yet to be published in many American history books.
In my eyes, Thanksgiving has never been about the Pilgrims-- and to many Americans, I question if this is their sole source of celebration, as many people blindly celebrate holidays and have no clue of their history. Although I am sure many people celebrate Thanksgiving as a way to express “thanks,” for me, Thanksgiving serves as another remembrance of how my Native American ancestors were maltreated; annihilated; ousted from their land; and consigned to reservations, eradicating every trace of their pre-existing life.
Thanksgiving rehashes memories of how the hospital staff, in its refusal to treat my great-great grandfather, sent him home to die from pneumonia because he was Native American. Thanksgiving reminds me of how my great-grandmother had “to pass” as a light-skinned black person to avoid being forced on a reservation. When thinking of Thanksgiving, I recall how my Nation, the Cherokees, was forced from its land in Georgia, leaving a “Trail of Tears.” As I sit around with my family and share thoughts while eating on Thanksgiving, I think of how the very ingredients with which my food was prepared, had been picked once by the hands of my Native American ancestors who served as slaves in North Carolina and the Caribbean. Needless to say, I also think of my African ancestors who toiled away in the fields to pick the very foods with which my food was prepared. America, to me, is not the “Land of Pilgrim’s pride," but should be and is to me, the "Land of Native American pride".
The national holiday, “Thanksgiving,” was not initially created in the way most Americans have come to know it.
The history of Thanksgiving
Prior to European settlers, North America consisted of 10-16 million Native Americans. Some researchers say there may have been nearly 30 million Native Americans, prior to European settlers. Long before Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaimed the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans of North America had harvest celebrations for centuries, praising the “Earth Mother” who bestowed upon them herds for hunting, aquatic bodies for fishing, and plentiful crops for harvesting. Although these harvest celebrations differed for each tribe across North America, there was still a common belief amongst Native Americans that a “spiritual” being or force had blessed them with life and longevity.
For hundreds of years, before Pilgrims had arrived in the “New World” in 1620, Native Americans of North America encountered English and Spanish slave traders, who had been raiding their villages. Needless to say, when the first set of European settlers landed on Plymouth, Native Americans were a bit apprehensive of having the Europeans on their land. However, Tisquantum, who is widely recognized as "Squanto" in American history, spoke English and was able to communicate with the Pilgrims, realizing they were sick and hungry. Thus, Tisquantum decided to show the Pilgrims how to survive in America through harvesting crops, hunting, and fishing. It has been argued how Tisquantum could have it in his heart to help the Pilgrims after being thrice captured by European slave traders, prior to the Pilgrims' arrival. However, it is in Native American culture to have good will and a generous heart. It is through these actions the Natives believed they would receive blessings.
It is speculated the first Thanksgiving occurred in October 1621; however, there are major date discrepancies. Some records report it lasted for three days and included: fasting, prayer, religious ceremonies, and finally, the shared meal. The Wampanoag people, the tribe to which Tisquantum belonged, provided most of the food. However, the first Thanksgiving was neither to share “thanks” nor to display “love and affection” for one another as stories claim. The Wampanoag people were actually invited to the first Thanksgiving to negotiate a treaty that would grant the Pilgrims rights to the Plymouth land. Since the Native American population and its knowledge of America’s lands outweighed that of the Pilgrims', the Pilgrims viewed Native Americans as a threat. By creating a treaty, the Pilgrims would have the land “secured” for when more Pilgrims reached the “New World”. Once more Pilgrims arrived, they could begin to conquer the Native Americans and pillage their land. Until then, the Pilgrims would “play nice” until the shift of power was transferred to them. Hence, the first Thanksgiving is created.
Religion and a broken promise
The Pilgrims who settled in America were not innocent exiles who had been banished unjustly from their country. Instead, they were “political revolutionists” belonging to the Puritan movement, which was seen as unorthodox and intolerable by the King of the Church of England. The Puritan Pilgrims viewed themselves as being the “chosen elect,” linking themselves to the Book of Revelations, and decided to travel to America to build a “Kingdom of God”. Pilgrim leader, William Bradford, wrote in his diary that the voyage to the "New World" was motivated by "a great hope for advancing the kingdom of Christ." Also, it should be noted the Puritans did eventually overthrow the England government in 1649.
The Puritans, if living today, would be classified as religious fanatics who would do anything "to serve their God”. They held the notion everything had to be “pure”. If people’s religious beliefs differed from Puritan values, the Puritans felt compelled to “purify” others, as well. Needless to say, once the Pilgrims witnessed how Native Americans worshipped differently, the Pilgrims enforced their religious beliefs upon Native Americans as being “righteous” and “the chosen religion”. This was the same behavior that led to the Pilgrims' exile from England.
The Pilgrims neglected to see the spirituality Native Americans possessed, particularly when involving their connection to the land. In their attempt to spread Puritanism, the Puritan Pilgrims were not always very peaceful. Furthermore, since Tisquantum had been christianized during his capture and stay in England, the Pilgrims viewed him as an instrument to spread Puritanism amongst the Wampanoag people. However, when the Natives rebelled, the Puritans used trickery, treason, torment, warfare, and genocide to achieve their end: a new, exclusive nation existing predominantly of Puritans. The Puritans viewed their fight against Native Americans as a “holy war against Satan,” as everyone who disagreed was labeled a “savage”— the word often used to describe Native Americans. The Puritan’s elitist attitudes and behaviors were transported to the “New World,” and it was this attitude and behavior that compelled them to conquer Native Americans. In fact, when Governor Winthrop proclaimed the first Thanksgiving, it was a celebration for the safe return of the Puritan men from what is now called Mystic, Connecticut after a successful massacre of 700 Pequot men, women, and children, which is known as the Thanksgiving Massacre.
Furthermore, hostile feelings further erupted because the Pilgrims reneged on their agreement with Native Americans established during the first Thanksgiving meal. Since the Pilgrims’ harvest was meager, Native Americans wanted to exchange their harvest for beads and metals, and other materials the Europeans owned. Initially expressing willingness, as the Pilgrims accepted the Natives' harvest, the Pilgrims in the end, did not follow through with their word. Since Native American tribal leaders strove to be men of their word, they were angered by the Pilgrims’ bad faith.
The Thanksgiving we know and how it was formed
The first Thanksgiving was the first and last celebrated amongst the Pilgrims, and it was definitely the last for Native Americans. The widely held notion of Pilgrims sitting around eating pumpkin pie years thereafter is false. President George Washington occasionally made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the permanent reinstatement of a Thanksgiving holiday. However, this was not achieved until President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation to promote a more unified nation, which had been divided by the Civil War. It was later modified by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and approved by Congress in 1941, by which it now would take place on the last Thursday in November.
A generation after the first Thanksgiving, the balance of power had shifted to the Pilgrims or New Englanders: Native American and white descendants were at complete war with one another. This genocidal war was known as King Philip’s War. At the end of this war, Native Americans had either been annihilated or exiled and made refugees among the French in Canada or sold into slavery in the Carolinas by the Puritans. In fact, this slave trade was so popular that Boston Puritans who owned ships decided to raid the Ivory Coast of Africa, and we all know how that ended. Can we say approximately 465 years of African Americans enslaved?
A new Thanksgiving story?
Americans should know the history behind Thanksgiving. The images of Pilgrims continually celebrating Thanksgiving, and Native Americans being invited out of goodwill is false. As tension mounted, and wars erupted between Native Americans and Pilgrims, there were no future Thanksgivings. Native American history involves successive colonization, intrusion of colonists' beliefs, sacrilege of lands and sacred burial sites, and the unjust force of Native Americans further west. However, this was not always the story of Native Americans. Native Americans used to live in a harmonious society. "Earth Mother" or "Mother Earth" was respected and she in return, blessed Native Americans with bountiful crops, peace, and health. Since then, America has become a place of corruption, racism, segregation, and capitalism-- all due to the foundation on which America was built. As Abigail Adams once questioned how could any good come from a White House that was built by half-hungry slaves, how can America be a place of good will, liberty, and welfare without acknowledging the bloodshed and tragedy of its native peoples?
What many of us eat today, including our Thanksgiving menu, comes from the harvest crop initially cultivated by Natives, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of all crops, including corn, potatoes, and tomatoes. It is important that we teach our children the truth on which America was founded. The images, the story, the history of Native Americans must be changed. What we have all learned is based on both truth and myth. It is our duty as parents to educate our children and teach them the real story of not only Thanksgiving, but also America, wholly. How can races/ethnicities ever heal unless we are able to address the problems and move on together to face them?
Yet, the true theme existing behind Thanksgiving should not be ignored, as everyone should be thankful for his or her blessings and this is something we must instill in all children: the acknowledgment of your blessings and being grateful for them. But most importantly, we must instill in them, the truth.
Sources:
http://www.nativecircle.com/mlmThanksgivingmyth.html
http://www.purewatergazette.net/nativeamericanthanksgiving.htm
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/Thanksgiving/NAPerspective.htm
http://www.nativeamericans.com/Thanksgiving.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/turquoisebutterfly/thanksgiving.html
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Introduction/lessonplandebunk.php
http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/articles/thanksgiving.html
Comments
Very Interesting. Thank you
I really enjoyed this article. I'm not sure how accurate your facts are, but it was very moving to find someone with my same belief. We must never forget. We must teach our children the truths.
here is some other thoughts on Thanksgiving
Wow! another who has look't at the facts about this "holy" day. I may be wrong and I've found some "americans" do not want to know the facts about the making of the "United States" They would rather play the myths game. the struggle will never be over until all americans have equal access to the dream.
First off, you quote some pretty specific details on things that happened 400 years ago and that are not in writing.
Also do you mean 70% of crops CAME from indians? or 70% now come from indians? Article is somewhat poorly written and I'm tired of indians (I don't use native americans, because I too am a native american, I was born in america so that makes me native), but I'm tired of people that cry and whine about what happened 20 years ago or 400 years ago. Move on and get over it.
BTW, if you mean 70% come from indians now? Well, you better get out of the big city, quit listening to the bleeding heart liberals and really find out who feeds this nation and the world for that fact.
Excellent story. Sad to see some modern day, puritan-like, comments from some that have left comments. Clearly just need to get away from the computer and go sit in a corner and think of things to be thankful for. Beyond doubt, missed the point all together. As far as the food comments, the world over would not have known what potatoes, corn, beans, squash and other foods are and medicines for that matter, had it not been for Native Americans. In true American fashion, theses crops were exploited, soils ruined, livelihoods destroyed and thanks to this kind of behavior we can no longer drink water straight from any river from within our coastlines. As far as I see it was crops nurtured and harvested by Native Americans hundreds of years before European contact that continues to "feed the world". Hitler is practically a saint when compared to what the Puritans brought us. For this reason no one born here should be quick to identify themselves as "Native" without understanding how they came to be here. The sentiments for these types can be compared to what African American's feel when being called the "N" word by someone who is not African American. As a Native American I can boldly and proudly and most importantly honestly say I am "NATIVE".
How about a story on how Islam destroyed every culture it conquered?
Nice name BTW, were you married off to a pedophile like your namesake?
Another magnificent take on a time in our history most seem to deny completely. The moral of it all, truth hurts, but it also can free your mind from total ignorance. There is a story for everything in history, but the truth lies somewhere in every story. I applaud you, the informer, for speaking your mind and telling it like it is. So please believe you will get a many a comments from those that can't handle it, and those that absolutely love it. I for one am ecstatic about your work. Its a fresh perspective on issues that haunt our souls on a regular basis. Do not feel discouraged, do not feel unworthy for you are a godsend to your community. Your voice like many other media outlets gives us hope of a more conscious society.
Hopefully everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving despite all the trouble going on in this world right now!!! And white man tired of crying natives...until you become a Native American (or Indian like your people call them) or African American to name a few, please refrain from making any comments because YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OUR SKIN. Whether is was 400 years ago or five minutes ago it's still the same crap in a different context. Something you would never understand unless you choose to be with a woman of color and have children. Then you'll feel the pain through your children.
First of all, "white man tired of crying natives," this article is far from poorly written. I think you may be experiencing some difficulties with reading because from the looks of your response, you cannot even spell. I think you meant "white" instead of "whit." But hey, I may be wrong.
But moving on to the issue, how dare you have the gall to identify yourself as a Native when your ancestors were not indigenous to North America? I am sure that somewhere down the line, someone in your family came over in a boat, as did everyone else, with the EXCEPTION of the NATIVE AMERICANS! You say that Ms. Ali quotes some specifics that happened 400 years ago? Well, I'm not certain if you know, but there is something called "history," which is how a person becomes aware and learns what happened before their generation. However, because this history lesson wasn't to your liking, and it wasn't distorted as other history lessons, you want to claim it as "false" or "outdated"? The truth is: racism still exists in this world, whether you or other individuals in your privileged race choose to accept it or not.
Had racism been dissolved so many years ago, then why is it such a big deal that we have finally seen the day of a BLACK President? This is because society has tried so hard to keep people of color down. If racism no longer exists, then why is President Obama receiving death threats more so than any other President? Why did a one-horse, redneck town have a poll going to see on what day President Obama would be assassinated? If society was dissolved of prejudices, then why is it that Native Americans are still invisible, pushed away on reservations? If racism no longer exists, then why is affirmative action still in place? Shouldn't this policy be dissolved? Shouldn't it just be assumed that the best candidate(black, white, Native American, etc.) will receive the job or get into the best college?
Why is it okay for Jewish people to proclaim their rights and speak of what happened to their people, but Blacks and Native Americans cannot? That is so unjust! It is people like you who continue to keep the hate going because you choose to live in darkness. You are so ignorant and rude.
Being that I am also Black and Indian, I know that there are hard ships for people like me. The past is littered with the mistreatment of all of my people. If any person feels the need to show as much anger and hatred towards anther person or group of people, as "whitmantired of crying natives" has shown, then I believe that person has seen something in those people that he hates about himself.
There is no need to argue with him or anybody else that acts out like that. Those statements of his are more like out cries for help. Don't hate a man for needing help; dislike his lack of courage to seek it.
(Another well written article sis!)
Elric66, Please keep your racist comments to yourself. Before you come to the conclusion that Islam has destroyed “every culture it has conquered” maybe you should look into FACTUAL history about Islam. If it wasn’t for Muslim societies Asian Indians would still be cremating widows with their husbands, Europe would not have revived itself with the classical literature MUSLIMS preserved, the world would not have benefited from the science exploration and inventions of Muslims, nor would they have seen the grandeur of Muslim architecture. I can go on and on about how Islam has made POSITIVE contributions to the world and continue to do so. I’m sure anyone reading this is encountered a Muslim, doctor, teacher, lawyer, or engineer in their life. Now if you want to take the acts of recent terrorists and defame an entire entity of people then take the time to look into all the Christian, Jewish, and Hindu fanatics the world has seen. I’m sure if you have the guts to look with objective eyes you will find criminals and fanatics come in all shapes in colors. The only difference is that today the modern media has made it a hobby to report negatively on Muslims and insults towards Islam are a repulsive accepted norm. Enough is Enough!
My comments really have nothing to do with the article and more so with comments that have already been posted. Americans are good for degrading that which they do not agree with. Its one thing to disagree constructively its another thing to disagree destructively. And the destructive disagreements have plunged this country into the worst times in American History. So while each person definitely has the right to say what they (a result of constructive disagreement) it would behoove us all to respect the person more than the opinion.
Now to the article:
Definitely an insightful read though question the validity of some points made. I believe that every piece of history was written with bias, so this article makes me want to research further. Keep up the good writing.
Thank you for writing this piece. These truths have not only been passed down orally through generations of Native Americans, but they have also been documented in the diaries of missionaries and others. Unfortunately they don't often make it into mainstream history books because they depict not-so-pretty pictures of our past. Thank you for putting the spotlight on those things which have been tucked away in the dark corners of history.
It is important to remember the past and to learn from the mistakes made by others. Despite the slanted imagery some portray at Thanksgiving, this day should not be wasted. Anytime people show thanks it is a good thing. Learning from the past is essential and so is moving forward together as a nation and world. White Puritans were not the only ones who profited from slave trade. The indigenous people of the Americas had slaves from other tribes. All was not peaceful in the Americas before the whitemen came. The people warred and slaughtered eachother. Also, it was African tribes that sold members of other tribes to the slave traders. Africans betraying Africans. All that is wrong in the world is not only the result of white people. All are to blame and all need to work together to bring unity regardless of race. More effort should be expended to unify rather than carry a chip on our shoulder about how generations past were wronged.
To Glade who wrote:
"More effort should be expended to unify rather than carry a chip on our shoulder about how generations past were wronged."
I wonder if children who were murdered on their own lands would say those of us who refuse to pretend the theft of America did not happen would call it a "chip on our shoulder?" To lessen the magnitude of what Native American's suffered - and it was horrible cruelty - and the fact that the lives of their descendants are still impacted by these acts is not small thing. To have lost their lands, their right to decide the laws on their own lands, to even be allowed to claim their own birthrights, and to be a minority on their own lands is a moral disgrace and human tragedy. To discount being mindful of all others have suffered by calling it a mere "chip" is insulting to anyone with a conscience.
I have to comment on "Glade's" statements as well. You seem to be heck-bent on lessening the injustice that was suffered by Sovereign Americans by saying they had slaves too and thereby helping you to feel better about living on their lands, benefiting from their birthright, and benefiting from murder, theft, and blasphemy. No one should have had slaves - no one. But no one should justify murder, theft, and the breaking of every Commandment in order to exist here. You are wrong and I don't think you are without sin yourself and yet I'll bet you don't want terrorists violating our shores and taking over and doing to YOU and your family what was done to Sovereign people and YOU are not sin-free. So when you eat that turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie,cranberries, corn bread, and so much more from the heritage of Native Americans, remember how you got it and who's lands you profit from daily, and remember that you are surely not without sin.
Thank you so much Aisha! These are some of the best stories on Thanksgiving I've read. I so appreciate your telling the truth. Were the Native Americans actually enslaved? How awful. Well, I can tell you, real Christians would not have acted that way. {Clearly the pilgrams were not genuine Christians.} I have posted your arttcle on Facebook. And so glad I read it.
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