Why Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning, Not Celebration
When I was in elementary school in Queens, New York, I learned the same thing that other kids were learning - that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America, and that the Native Americans and Pilgrims feasted together which later established “Thanksgiving”. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I learned the sordid truth about how white colonizers came to America uninvited and wiped out entire populations of Native people. I’ve always wondered: how come they didn’t tell us the truth in the first place? Surely, first and second graders had already learned that taking things that don’t belong to them is wrong.
Thanksgiving has always been an interesting holiday for my family. My brother and I loved the 4-day weekend off from school. My mom appreciated that the family could sit down for a meal together since she usually worked the night shift and slept during the day. We had authentic Chinese food since we don’t eat turkey, gravy, or cranberry sauce. My relatives liked the sales that kicked off the holiday season.
My parents, who grew up poor and undereducated, didn’t know about the Native people or what Thanksgiving really meant. But they understood oppression and racism. They knew what it meant to be pushed out of their homes and communities. They grew up in Hong Kong at a time when white British colonizers held power and control over the local people.
Today, I see Thanksgiving as a day of mourning. Some might call this a boycott of the holiday. On the days when I’ve had to work on Thanksgiving, I had conversations with my co-workers and our non-profit clients about the real story of Thanksgiving. We talk about how oppression continues to show up. We give thanks to what we have. We hold a moment of silence for those whose lives have been lost in the creation of this country. We acknowledge the stolen land that we’re on instead of showing our gratitude to the white colonizers.
Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of their people, the theft of their lands, and the relentless assault on their cultures. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today.
-National Day of Mourning Plaque
My family still comes together for a large family meal on Thanksgiving day. We continue to eat authentic Chinese food. This year though, we’ll probably discuss the politics of Hong Kong and how oppression has fueled the protests. My aunts and uncles will debate about China’s role and whether pro-democracy protestors are in the right. But we’ll be thankful that our families are safe and that everyone is healthy. While we haven't formally acknowledged stolen land yet, we’ll show gratitude that we were able to immigrate and live here.
What are some of the ways your family spends Thanksgiving? Also, here are some ideas as to how you can support Indigenous people this year.