The worst holiday in America's history has arrived. It serves as a reminder of one of the worst atrocities committed by European conquerors upon arrival to their so called Newfoundland. Even as a child I have never understood thanksgiving. I would wonder what was I thankful for. If you are lucky to find a Native American in any metropolitan area be sure to say "Happy Thanksgiving." You will definitely get a response, just not the happy go lucky "and Thanksgiving to you too." While there were many atrocities committed during these festive times I will leave with one story from a Native Americans whose ancestor's were the victims of this thanksgiving feast:
In 1637 near present day Groton, Connecticut, over 700 men, women and children of the Pequot Tribe had gathered for their annual Green Corn Festival which is our Thanksgiving celebration. In the predawn hours the sleeping Indians were surrounded by English and Dutch mercenaries who ordered them to come outside. Those who came out were shot or clubbed to death while the terrified women and children who huddled inside the longhouse were burned alive. The next day the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared "A Day Of Thanksgiving" because 700 unarmed men, women and children had been murdered.
Cheered by their "victory", the brave colonists and their Indian allies attacked village after village. Women and children over 14 were sold into slavery while the rest were murdered. Boats loaded with a many as 500 slaves regularly left the ports of New England. Bounties were paid for Indian scalps to encourage as many deaths as possible
Following an especially successful raid against the Pequot in what is now Stamford, Connecticut, the churches announced a second day of "thanksgiving" to celebrate victory over the heathen savages. During the feasting, the hacked off heads of Natives were kicked through the streets like soccer balls. Even the friendly Wampanoag did not escape the madness. Their chief was beheaded, and his head impaled on a pole in Plymouth, Massachusetts -- where it remained on display for 24 years.
The killings became more and more frenzied, with days of thanksgiving feasts being held after each successful massacre. George Washington finally suggested that only one day of Thanksgiving per year be set aside instead of celebrating each and every massacre. Later Abraham Lincoln decreed Thanksgiving Day to be a legal national holiday during the Civil War -- on the same day he ordered troops to march against the starving Sioux in Minnesota.
Reprinted from http://www.manataka.org/page269.html
Remember the Native Americans!
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Well, being Black on top of all that, it's tough to celebrate it in THAT manner.
ReplyDeleteI'm more or less giving thanks to God for my family, since that's what it's all about for me. Other than that, I don't see how a Black person can celebrate it like someone from England can.
I'm in San Francisco. On that day, I join the local native tribe and various others, and we venture out to was has always been a sacred island for them - Alcatraz. We have a sunrise ceremony, and then I follow it by a quiet day of contemplation, and fasting.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be a wonderful way to spend the day with your family? Together, taking a moment to recognize the presence of native peoples? The adults could fast, the children could be told stories - perhaps old native stories, preferably of the tribe that is or was local to where you live. It would help you and your family form a bond with your place and it's, your, history. I promise you, it would lift your spirit.